SSE has confirmed the creation of 100 new full-time jobs after Montrose Port was selected as its preferred locations for the operations and maintenance base of its planned Berwick Bank B offshore wind farm.
The announcement was made at an event at Montrose Port today (September 28), attended by Scotland’s first minister, John Swinney, who praised SSE’s continued commitment to creating highly skilled offshore wind jobs through its Scottish renewable energy investments.
The 100 new full-time jobs will include technicians and engineers responsible for the day-to-day offshore operations of the wind farm throughout its expected operational life of more than 35 years. The offshore wind jobs will be based at a new operational hub on Montrose Port’s South Harbour, supporting continued economic growth in Montrose and across Angus through long-term investment and skilled employment.
In addition to the new full-time roles, around 30 construction jobs will also be supported during the redevelopment of Montrose Port Authority’s existing offices, which will be repurposed for the new base.
First minister John Swinney said, “SSE’s selection of the Port of Montrose as its preferred location for its operations and maintenance base for Berwick Bank further strengthens Scotland’s offshore wind supply chain and will create more jobs as well as investment in skills, infrastructure and local communities.
“Scotland’s ports are critical enablers of our offshore wind ambitions and key economic assets for surrounding communities, with the Port of Montrose set to become one of the world’s largest offshore wind operations and maintenance hubs, supporting the Berwick Bank, Seagreen and Inch Cape offshore wind farms.
“Through our strategic investment in offshore wind, we are helping to develop the infrastructure, skills and supply chains needed to secure long-term economic growth and export opportunities from the global market.”
Located in the outer Firth of Forth, around 38km off Scotland’s east coast, Berwick Bank B forms part of SSE’s wider 4.1GW Berwick Bank Wind Farm project. In January, SSE successfully secured a 20-year contract for 1.4GW of offshore wind generation from Berwick Bank B in Allocation Round 7 of the UK Government’s Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme, which provides long-term revenue certainty for electricity generation projects. SSE is progressing Berwick Bank B towards a Final Investment Decision (FID), expected next year.
If built to its full 4.1GW capacity, Berwick Bank could become the world’s largest offshore wind farm, capable of generating enough homegrown electricity to power around 6.5 million UK homes annually and meet more than 6% of current UK electricity demand. This would make Berwick Bank a nationally significant project that can strengthen UK energy security and reduce exposure to volatile international energy markets*.
Stuart Hood, director of offshore wind operations at SSE Renewables, commented, “Scotland has built a world-class offshore wind industry, and today’s announcement shows the economic opportunities that can follow when that expertise is matched with long-term investment.
“Our decision to choose Montrose as the preferred operations base for Berwick Bank B and create 100 new jobs reflects the strength of the port, its people and the local supply chain. SSE has built a strong relationship with Montrose Port over many years, and this latest long-term investment will help support the port’s continued development as a leading offshore wind hub. This is clear evidence of the potential for the clean energy transition to drive skilled job creation and economic opportunity for communities up and down the country.”
The total number of jobs linked to Berwick Bank at Montrose Port could rise to almost 300 full-time operational roles if the project’s remaining A and C phases also secure support through future Contracts for Difference (CfD) auctions and reach final investment decisions, SSE said.
Tom Hutchison, CEO of Montrose Port Authority, added, “Our relationship with SSE is built on trust, delivery and years of working side by side. Being chosen for Berwick Bank B shows how far that partnership has come and how much SSE values what Montrose can offer. It will bring 100 skilled operational jobs to our region over the life of the wind farm and support a further 30 during construction of the base. That matters enormously to us as a trust port.
“We are proud to be a long-term partner to SSE and grateful for their continued confidence in Montrose.”
