Ardersier Port, located near Inverness in the Scottish Highlands, has secured an initial investment commitment of £300m to transform it into a hub for offshore wind and energy transition projects. The investment will be provided by Quantum, a US-based investment firm that specializes in providing private capital to the global energy industry.
Ardersier Port was once a construction yard owned by McDermott but has been lying unused for some time. With the investment from Quantum, the port will be redeveloped to support the deployment of offshore wind installations and the decommissioning of older oil and gas infrastructure in the North Sea.
See also: Renewable Connections and European Energy UK sell Scottish solar projects to EVC Kilt
Michael MacDougall, a partner at Quantum, said that the project aligns with the company's mission to drive decarbonisation. “Quantum is delighted to invest in this exciting next phase of development at Ardersier,” he said.
Redeveloping the port's infrastructure and extending its quay will allow Ardersier to provide capacity and services to the offshore wind energy industry and the North Sea decommissioning programme. The scale of the ScotWind programme demands major additional port capacity, according to the Floating Wind Offshore Wind Taskforce.
Clearing the North Sea of redundant oil and gas platforms will involve over 1.3 million tonnes of infrastructure being brought onshore over the next decade, according to Offshore Energies UK's Decommissioning Insight report for 2022.
The project is expected to create thousands of construction jobs, in addition to ongoing employment opportunities for the deployment and maintenance of offshore wind farms and the decommissioning of redundant North Sea assets.
Steve Regan and Tony O'Sullivan, the founders of Ardersier Port, expressed their delight at the investment and the appointment of Lewis Gillies as CEO. “This investment by Quantum and securing the appointment of a CEO of Lewis' calibre is a clear endorsement of our vision for Ardersier Port to transform a national asset into a key energy transition facility,” they said.
Lewis Gillies, the CEO of Haventus, the parent company of Ardersier Port, said that he was delighted to take on the role of CEO. “Ardersier will provide a vital facility for the deployment of the offshore wind industry and enable the domestic decommissioning of redundant oil and gas assets,” he said.
“It is a privilege to be asked to take on the role of CEO. The investment will bring jobs and growth to the Highlands economy. I am delighted to return to Scotland to lead this important project and look forward to working with Tony, Steve, and the team to achieve Ardersier's potential.”
The investment in Ardersier Port is a significant development for the offshore wind industry in Scotland and will provide a much-needed boost to the economy of the Scottish Highlands. With the commitment from Quantum and the support of the local community, Ardersier Port has the potential to become a major hub for offshore wind and energy transition projects in the years ahead.
