Energy

Allowing the energy industry to flourish

Offshore wind, oil and gas, decommissioning and emerging areas such as hydrogen and electric transport – the region’s strategic partnership approach to future energy solutions and opportunities brings together public, private and academic sectors.

The port is an operations and maintenance base for many oil and gas and offshore wind installations, including the Neart na Gaoithe windfarm located 15.5km off the shore of Fife.

Its ‘Energy Dundee’ collaborative is an indicator of the region’s ambitions to be a frontrunner in the low-carbon economy. In addition, the city is home to the largest urban wind turbines in Europe, operating at the Michelin tyre factory.

From land, to sea and construction of the Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm off the Fife coast – hailed as a milestone investment for de-carbonising the UK electricity system – is now underway. Once fully operational, it will generate enough power for around 375,000 home and displace 400,000 tonnes of CO2 annually. All of its 54 turbines are being assembled at the Port of Dundee.

Montrose Port is set to be the operations and maintenance base for SSE Renewables £6 billion Seagreen offshore wind farm – which will be Scotland’s largest offshore windfarm and is expected to produce enough energy to power more than 40% of all households in Scotland.

The Angus base will play an important role in the day-to-day running, ensuring the reliable delivery of renewable energy. Meanwhile, the region’s Mercury Programme brings together public and private sector, academia and other partners to work towards ‘Clean Growth’ solutions based on low carbon, agri-tech and bio-economy innovations.

A £31 million subsea centre of excellence by Baker Hughes is among the most advanced of its kind anywhere in the world. The Montrose centre contains pioneering state-of-the-art manufacturing processes, such as virtual reality tools and industrial 3D printing, enabling more efficient and innovative outcomes for the oil and gas industry was developed with a £4.9m Scottish Enterprise grant.

The Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law & Policy at University of Dundee is one of the leading graduate schools in the field of international energy law and policy, attracting students from around the globe.

The James Hutton Institute has developed tools which can help policymakers analyse the economics of renewable energy sources like anaerobic digestion, which sees micro-organisms break down biodegradable material to produce biogas and bio-fertilisers.

Pathfinders leading the way - further reading