Arup appointed to lead offshore wind collaboration on ports and manufacturing

• Global sustainability consultancy Arup has been appointed as Programme Manager to coordinate delivery of the Strategic Investment Model for SOWEC
• The Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council (SOWEC) is a partnership between the Scottish public sector and the offshore wind industry, and is coordinating discussions between offshore wind developers and Scottish ports to maximise opportunities for strategic investment
• As appointed Programme Manager, Arup will lead delivery of this ambitious programme across 2023/24
• ScotWind could see £28bn invested in Scotland’s supply chain. The Strategic Investment Model will see offshore wind developers and the Scottish Government working together to identify priorities for port and manufacturing investment needed to deliver ScotWind and other projects.

Crown Estate Scotland (CES), acting on behalf of SOWEC, has awarded the SIM Programme Manager contract to global sustainability consultancy, Arup, supported by leading legal advisers Addleshaw Goddard.

The Programme Manager role is a critical element in the delivery of SOWEC’s Strategic Investment Model (SIM) which seeks to identify investment priorities necessary to deliver the ScotWind pipeline and to maximise Scottish supply chain benefits.

The Programme Manager will now work with ScotWind developers between now and October 2023 to identify proposals with potential for collaborative investment as part of Stage 1 of the SIM process. In Stage 2, interested developers, government, and other partners will  work collaboratively on individual projects to get projects to final investment decision so that they can be in place and ready to support ScotWind projects later this decade.

Energy Minister Gillian Martin MSP said: “Scotland has a world-beating offshore wind pipeline, and it’s vital that we capitalise on the enormous economic benefits from the delivery of ScotWind."

“Collaboration between industry and government will be an important part of ensuring this happens. SOWEC’s Strategic Investment Model is an important tool in achieving this, and the appointment of Arup as Programme Manager is an important next step to ensuring we identify and deliver on the priorities that will maximise the benefits that will come from ScotWind.”

SOWEC’s Industry Co-Chair Brian McFarlane of SSE Renewables said “All of Scotland’s offshore wind developers are committed to working together to grow Scotland’s supply chain. Every Scottish offshore wind project is ambitious about what can be achieved, but there are things we can better do together.

“This commitment to collaborate is what makes Scotland’s Strategic Investment Model potentially transformative in its ambition, and I’m delighted that we have Arup on board as Programme Manager to turn this into reality.”

Colin Maciver, Head of Offshore Wind Development for Crown Estate Scotland, said: “The conclusion of the ScotWind leasing process was a hugely significant achievement, but it marks only the beginning of a long period of work, where success will depend on everyone involved in Scotland’s offshore wind industry working together.

“The Strategic Investment Model is vital to ensuring that we develop a co-ordinated approach to addressing challenges in delivering early investment, and that the undoubted benefits of offshore wind are maximised.“

Elliot Wishlade, Project Director, Arup Edinburgh, said: “Arup is delighted to have been appointed for this exciting and challenging role. There is an imperative to deliver offshore wind programmes efficiently and rapidly if Scotland’s green energy ambitions are to be met. There is huge opportunity for the SIM to provide substantial and enduring economic benefits, maximising Scottish supply chain growth. We are looking forward to working closely with SOWEC, Crown Estate Scotland, the Scottish Government and developers to help realise these ambitions.”

In August 2021, the Strategic Investment Assessment report, headed up by Professor Sir Jim McDonald, recommended the offshore wind industry and government establish a Collaborative Framework to grow an offshore wind port cluster. Since January 2022 ScotWind developers have been actively working to turn this collaboration into a practical programme – the Strategic Investment Model. By working together industry and government can better identify and then help support the delivery of critical infrastructure such as ports that we will need to deliver ScotWind.

The operation of the SIM in 2023/24 is backed by funding from each ScotWind project, as well as Scottish Government. Funders identified a need to appoint a Programme Manager with the expertise and resource to drive this programme forward, and following a tender process led by Crown Estate Scotland, Arup was appointed.

With the Programme Manager in place, SOWEC, the Scottish Government and developers will work together to identify priority collaborative proposals by the end of October 2023. Following this, a second stage of work will commence with developers and government then opting in to work alongside ports and other supply chain companies to establish how to bring these infrastructure investments forward so they are ready in time for ScotWind.

Editors Notes

• The Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council (SOWEC) is a collaboration between the Scottish public sector and the offshore wind industry. SOWEC has a clear vision and goals which is focused on growing the sector, ensuring the Scottish offshore wind industry is more sustainable, competitive, and commercially-attractive, both domestically and in the global offshore wind market.
• SOWEC’s mission is to coordinate and grow the sector, ensuring the Scottish offshore wind industry is more sustainable, competitive, and commercially-attractive, both domestically and in the global offshore wind market.
• In May 2022 ScotWind developers committed to working in collaboration by signing the Collaborative Framework Charter.
• Dedicated to sustainable development, Arup is a collective of designers, consultants and experts working globally. Founded to be humane and excellent, we collaborate with our clients and partners, using imagination, technology and rigour to shape a better world.

To follow up on this press release please contact Maf Smith, Lumen Energy & Environment, maf.smith@lumenee.cc / 07768 531501