Arnish earmarked for priority renewable manufacturing 4/2/10
Arnish on Lewis has been identified as a strategic location to serve Scotland's burgeoning offshore wind energy industry.
It has been picked out for its world class potential to build wind turbines and become a priority player against global competitors.
Further investment may be ploughed into the wider Arnish industrial estate -
Ten other locations in Scotland are also earmarked in a report by development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in conjunction with Scottish Enterprise in response to the Scottish Government's Renewables Action Plan.
The other north sites are Nigg, (Easter Ross); Machrihanish (Campbeltown); Ardersier (Inverness) and Kishorn (Wester Ross).
Calum Davidson, HIE's head of key sectors, said: "This report underlines the opportunities for the Highlands and Islands to significantly contribute to Scotland's intention to be at the forefront of this emerging industry. Committed government investment, the enthusiasm of developers and a supportive public sector in the Highlands and Islands has contributed enormously to the strong position we're in today."
Renewables manufacturing is already underway at Arnish, Nigg and Machrihanish while Ardersier and Kishorn both have a history of involvement in energy industry manufacturing.
Mr Davidson explained: "This report has been compiled at a strategic level, based on data regarding the infrastructural, and locational merits of specific sites, along with the availability of a skilled workforce.
“However, this is just the first stage, clearly development at any of these or other sites will depend on specific demand, the availability of funding, environmental issues and will of course require regulatory planning procedures to be undergone."
The report sets out the requirements and potential scale of the offshore wind, wave and tidal sectors; the infrastructure required; the consultations that have shaped the report; the criteria used to identify the priority sites and what the next stages will be.
Colin Grant of HIE's energy team said: "We're delighted that so many locations in our region have been identified as priority sites and are confident that a high number of other sites in our region will play a key role in this industry.
“We will be working with developers and funders, businesses and communities to ensure that we can offer world class facilities here in Scotland ahead of international competitors."
Around 7000 offshore turbines are expected to be installed around the UK coast over the next seven to 10 years. It is estimated that total capital expenditure for offshore wind projects in Scottish territorial waters alone is around £15 billion to £18 billion in the next ten years.