Global Energy Group (GEG) is progressing with the port of Nigg’s West Quay expansion project, which has moved into a second stage of assessment.
The project will address the increasing demand for larger deepwater facilities in the UK to support the offshore renewables industry. It builds upon the existing West Quay at Nigg and will create a new ultra-deepwater berth with a 160 m-long quay. The expansion includes the development of an expansive laydown and storage area spanning 46,860 sq m, featuring a ground loading capacity of 50 tonnes per sq m.
The project has now moved to the second stage of Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council’s (SOWEC) strategic investment assessment (SIM), which was established to help deliver growth within Scotland’s offshore wind supply chain by working across industry and the public sector.
In May 2023, a first call for proposals from ports and supply chain companies was launched, with 44 applications received. 38 of those projects completed stage one of the process, which concluded at the start of 2024. On January 24, SIM confirmed that an initial three projects, including the West Quay Expansion project and a project at the port of Cromarty Firth, will move into stage two.
The second stage of the process focuses on ensuring the shortlisted projects have the confidence to make final investment decisions.
Iain Sinclair, executive director at GEG, said: “The vital enabling role that Scotland’s ports and harbours will play in supporting national net zero and energy security targets, specifically for offshore wind, is well documented. Being shortlisted to progress to the second stage of the SIM process is welcome confirmation of industry confidence in the port of Nigg’s strategic role in the industrialisation of offshore wind.”
The proposed expansion will elevate Nigg’s capacity to accommodate the evolving landscape of offshore wind structures, including both fixed and floating installations, as well as larger installation vessels. The expansion will bring the facility’s total quayside to 1,555 m.
