Press release: Green light for £9.2m harbour pier plan
An ambitious £9.2 million pier plan for Stromness on Orkney has been given the green light, after Scottish Government funding was announced by the Deputy First Minister as she arrived on Orkney for the latest Summer Cabinet.
The Copland’s Dock development will see construction of a new 100-metre pier and associated access road in Stromness, where Nicola Sturgeon is today hosting an industry event to mark the start of the grand challenge phase of the £10 million Saltire Prize competition for wave and tidal energy technology.
Together with developments at Lyness (island of Hoy) and Hatston (near Kirkwall), the Copland’s Dock pier forms part of Orkney Islands Council’s Three Ports Strategy to invest in major infrastructure projects that provide the marine renewables industry with upgraded and new-build pier and quayside facilities at key locations.
They will support the trialling of technologies at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) – the world’s first accredited testing facility for wave and tidal energy devices – and the future development of commercial-scale marine energy arrays in the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters, as well as benefiting the fishing and aquaculture sectors.
The Deputy First Minister said:
“Orkney is the beating-heart of the global marine renewables sector. By investing in key projects such as Copland’s Dock pier, we can ensure that these islands and other Scottish communities retain our leading role as the wave and tidal energy sector moves towards industrial-scale manufacturing and deployment over the next decade.
“A Highlands & Island Enterprise-commissioned study, to be published soon, has identified that in nine years since EMEC was set up, the marine energy industry has created around 250 jobs in Orkney, boosting its economy by tens of millions of pounds.
“This local economic impact is predicted to increase four-fold by 2020 as test activity accelerates further and the roll-out of the Pentland Firth & Orkney Waters commercial lease sites begins in earnest.
“Orkney’s maritime community, with its ability to service the marine industry, is well-placed to capitalise on these economic opportunities.
“And, of course, the environmental, energy and economic benefits of the work being pioneered in Orkney and in other waters around Scotland’s coast will accrue to countries around the world, as we strive to build low carbon economies across the globe.”
Today’s Scottish Government contribution to the Copland’s Dock project is in addition to £1.8 million from the European Regional Development Fund – announced in December by Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment Alex Neil – and £4.885 million committed by Orkney Islands Council.
Orkney Islands Council Convener, Councillor Steven Heddle, commented:
“We welcome today’s important funding announcement from the Scottish Government and now look forward to the start of construction work in Stromness.
“Orkney has demonstrably taken a global lead in the evolution of wave and tidal energy technologies, with more devices tested in the waters around our islands than in the rest of the world put together.
“Our Three Ports Strategy reflects the Council’s strong and continuing commitment to the marine energy sector. Looking further ahead to the commercial deployment of wave and tidal arrays in the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters, these three ports will have a vital role to play.
“We believe that the expertise that exists in Orkney will enable us to accelerate the commercial phase of marine energy, while continuing to lead on research.”
Calum Davidson, Director of Energy & Low Carbon, for Highlands & Islands Enterprise, said:
“This is another welcome investment in our region’s ports infrastructure which, in the past two years, has benefitted from £70 million from private and public sector partners, including the Scottish Government, HIE and the local authorities.
“Orkney is at the forefront of research, development and delivery of the next generation of power production. By working together to provide vital infrastructure and by supporting developers, suppliers, inward investors and local communities we can capture the full potential this emerging industry promises for Scotland.”
EMEC Managing Director Neil Kermode added:
“The Copland’s Dock facility will be invaluable to the marine renewables sector here in Orkney and it’s great to see government commitment to getting the right infrastructure in place to support the development of the industry.
“In the last couple of years we have seen activity at EMEC more than double, with 11 full-scale prototype marine energy devices deployed, or in the process of being deployed, at our wave and tidal test sites.
“The new pier will provide wave developers testing at EMEC’s wave test site, and those developing commercial projects along Orkney’s west coast, with nearby port facilities in sheltered water, an essential contrast from the harsh sea conditions that they face on site.”
Background:
The Deputy First Minister is due to view plans for the new pier later today ahead of the Saltire Prize event, which will be attended by the Council Convener, as well as competitors and other industry figures.
With marine traffic at Stromness steadily increasing, OIC took the decision to increase the harbour’s capacity. The new pier and access road will be located adjacent to the former Copland’s Dock on the south eastern shore of Hamnavoe. The pier will give greater marine energy access for the industrial estate opposite the historic town – which is home too much of the expanding EMEC-related test activity. With work commencing at the Dock in the autumn it is expected to be completed by the end of next year.
At Lyness, on the island of Hoy, a former wartime naval base has undergone a comprehensive makeover, giving it a new lease of life as a multi-purpose logistics base for the wave and tidal energy sectors. The £3 million development – which attracted 40 per cent support from the European ERDF fund – has resulted in the upgrade of two wharfs and the creation of a large lay-down area.
At Hatston, near Kirkwall, work is underway on a 160-metre extension to the existing 225-metres pier. It is due to be completed by early 2013. This £8.4 million development has attracted £3.4 million in ERDF funding. It will result in a major support and logistics base strategically located for developers trialling tidal technologies at EMEC’s tidal test site off the island of Eday. Highlands & Islands Enterprise has also invested £2.95m, including £1.18m from the European Regional Development Fund, to create the units on vacant industrial site next to Hatston Pier, Kirkwall.
