Edinburgh, 2 March 2023 – Floating offshore wind developers Renantis, BlueFloat Energy and Ørsted have given their backing to a skills and innovation hub for the sector in the Scottish Highlands.

The trio have become the first developers to join the board of the PowerHouse, which was established last year by Opportunity Cromarty Firth (OCF), winners of the bid for a Green Freeport.

The Easter Ross facility includes an applied research centre dedicated to developing floating offshore wind and green hydrogen technologies.

The PowerHouse is now leading plans to establish a new national training centre in the Highlands ahead of the expected offshore renewables employment boom.

The planned national centre for renewable energies training and skills will focus on developing the skills needed to work in the floating wind and green hydrogen industries, helping to meet the needs of firms that are expected to create tens of thousands of new roles in the emerging sectors.

Richard Dibley, speaking on behalf of the Renantis, BlueFloat Energy and Ørsted consortium, said: “We believe Scotland can successfully transition its oil and gas expertise into the floating offshore wind sector. However, it is vital that as the offshore wind sector rapidly develops in Scotland and the UK, the industry has the skilled workforce it will need.

“That expertise already exists in the north of Scotland in fabrication and manufacturing facilities as well as its technological capabilities, maximising the opportunity to create a pipeline of quality jobs.

“Plans to establish a national training and skills centre in the Highlands, which will be at the heart of those developments, are a very positive further step to ensuring that Scotland becomes a global leader in floating offshore wind expertise”.

The three developers are among 40 organisations from across the supply chain backing the PowerHouse, along with a number of academic partners and other private training providers.

Speaking on behalf of Opportunity Cromarty Firth, Port of Cromarty Firth chief executive, Bob Buskie, said: “This facility will ensure that local people and those attracted to the area by the opportunities on the horizon here have the skills they and the industry need.

“Along with the PowerHouse’s commitment to research and development, we have the chance here to play a key role in helping Scotland and the UK to take a global leadership position in the offshore floating wind and green hydrogen sectors.

“We warmly welcome Renantis, BlueFloat Energy and Ørsted’s backing as the PowerHouse plans and projects move forward at pace.”

ENDS

For more information contact Stan Arnaud on 07875 377419 or email stan.arnaud@morrison-media.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

Opportunity Cromarty Firth is backed by more than a dozen regional businesses, including the Port of Cromarty Firth and Global Energy Group as well as Inverness Chamber of Commerce and public sector organisations and academic bodies such as The Highland Council and UHI.

www.opportunitycromartyfirth.co.uk

About Ørsted:
The Ørsted vision is a world that runs entirely on green energy. Ørsted develops, constructs, and operates offshore and onshore wind farms, solar farms, energy storage facilities, and bioenergy plants, and provides energy products to its customers. Globally, Ørsted is the market leader in offshore wind and it is constructing the world’s biggest offshore wind farms off the East Coast of the UK. Its UK offshore wind farms generate enough clean electricity for seven million UK homes. Ørsted ranks #1 energy company in Corporate Knights’ 2022 index of the Global 100 most sustainable corporations in the world. Headquartered in Denmark, Ørsted employs 6,500 people, including over 1,100 in the UK.

Visit orsted.co.uk or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter.

Press contact:
Paul Haines |Head of UK Media Relations | T +44 7880 149088 | pauha@orsted.com

About Renantis:
Renantis, previously Falck Renewables – develops, designs, builds and manages power production plants from renewable sources, with an installed capacity of 1,420 MW in the United Kingdom, Italy, United States, Spain, France, Norway and Sweden, using wind power, solar power, waste to energy and biomass technologies. The Group is a global player in the renewable energy technical advisory and asset management services business, through its wholly owned subsidiary Vector Renewables, providing asset management services to clients accounting for approximately 5,300 MW of installed capacity and with experience in more than 40 countries. The Group also provides highly specialized energy management and downstream services to both energy producers and consumers.

Visit www.falckrenewables.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter (@falckrenewables).

Press contact:
Jenny MacPherson | JMC Communications | T +44 7900 917143 | jenny@jmccomms.co.uk

About BlueFloat Energy:
BlueFloat Energy is developing offshore wind projects in various regions of the world, where it can implement its vision: to accelerate global deployment of offshore wind as a key enabler for the energy transition and economic growth. Founded by renewable energy professionals, BlueFloat Energy brings together remarkable team expertise in the design, development, financing, construction and execution of offshore wind projects.

For more information please visit: https://bluefloat.wpengine.com

Press contact:
Isabel Rodrigo | Communications & Marketing Manager | +34 (0) 667 926 222 | irodrigo@bluefloat.com