New road at flagship energy park marks significant milestone
Work to create Scotland’s flagship Energy Park in Fife continues apace today, Monday 19 December 2011, as Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism, Fergus Ewing, visited the site to officially open the new access road, review progress on the project and hear first-hand, future investment plans for the Park.
Since acquiring the former rig yard in 2005, Scottish Enterprise - in conjunction with their development partners Fife Council - has invested almost £17 million in the 134 acre site.
The physical investment to date has been geared towards creating a world class location for Scotland’s growing renewables sector and includes the creation of a new access road and entrance to the Park, a major upgrade to quayside one, dredging of the sea bed, upgrading the utilities infrastructure, enhancing coastal defences, refurbishment of existing buildings and installation of boundary fences.
Phase two of investment continues with a major upgrade to quayside two, further improving access to the Park and undertaking coastal defence works.
Recognising the importance Energy Park Fife plays to the renewables sector, Mr Ewing said, "I was delighted to open the new access road to Energy Park Fife. The road opens up more areas of the park and increases the appeal to potential investors.
"It's great to see the progress at the park and to hear about the work that is going on there, and I was interested to visit Burntisland Fabrication Ltd, meet the staff and learn more about their work serving the offshore wind sector.
"There is no doubt that the Energy Park Fife, with its resources and location, has the potential to play a leading role in the development of offshore wind in Scotland in the coming years as these offshore wind projects move into the build and deployment phase."
Accompanying Mr Ewing on the visit, Scottish Enterprise’s managing director of operations, sectors and commercialisation, Paul Lewis said “Our investment in Energy Park Fife will help unlock the full potential of the Park and develop it into a world-class business location for companies in the renewable sector to invest and grow, creating new jobs and investment for Scotland. With its extensive acreage and deep water load-out facilities, and its close proximity to the offshore windfarm leasing sites in the North Sea, it is perfectly placed to service the European offshore wind market”.
Energy Park Fife is expected to have a cumulative contribution of up to £172 million to Scotland’s economy by 2015 and has already created several hundred jobs in the area.
Tony Martin, Fife Council Chair of Enterprise, Environment & Transportation Committee added, "Fife Council is delighted to see continued progress being made at Energy Park Fife thanks to the commitment shown by the Council, the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise. The current phase of investment and the opening of the new access road provide further evidence of our shared commitment to the project. The Council’s investment of nearly £6 million is helping to secure the success and long term benefits for Levenmouth, for Fife and for Scotland.
“In order to take investment in the Park to the next level, the Scottish Government has recently approved our first stage Tax Increment Finance Scheme funding application, which could deliver an additional £15 to £17 million in improvements to the site. This investment will further increase Methil's chances of attracting large scale inward investment projects and the Council is now working up a full business case submission.”
During his tour of Energy Park Fife, Mr Ewing visited Burntisland Fabrication Ltd (BiFab), the UK's leading manufacturer of jacket sub-structures for the offshore wind industry, to hear first hand its intentions to further expand within the site and strengthen its position in the offshore wind market.
BiFab managing director, John Robertson said, “We are very pleased with the proactive approach in developing Energy Park Fife. This facility has the potential to be one of the best manufacturing facilities in Europe creating hundreds of jobs.
“Our experience in the oil and gas sector has helped us to diversify into the renewable sector including wind, wave and tidal, and we plan to invest a further £15 million to strengthen our position in offshore wind by creating a facility that can produce 150 jacket sub structures per annum. This investment would ensure we are ready for UK Round three business opportunities commencing in 2015-16.”
A new viewing platform at Energy Park Fife was also unveiled during Mr Ewing’s visit to Energy Park Fife, where he was joined by a group of local school children from Aberhill Primary School to mark the occasion. Pictures of this are available on request.
Funded through Fife Council, the viewing platform has been developed for educational purposes as well as a tourist attraction for coastal path walkers. The aim of the project is to promote the renewables industry to the public and enable people to learn more about the sector. Interpretation panels at the Platform illustrate the work undertaken in various aspects of the Energy Park.