A new wind farm maintenance base has officially opened in Eyemouth, bringing with it the promise of dozens of jobs for the Borders region.
The base will support the operation and maintenance of the Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) offshore wind farm, located 15.5km off the Fife coast. The wind farm is expected to consist of 54 Turbines and be fully operational in 2024. The farm is estimated to produce around 450MW of energy which is capable of powering up to 375,000 homes.
The base was officially opened by Energy Secretary Michael Matheson, who said that it was a "big milestone" for the project. He also highlighted the potential for offshore wind power to create new jobs and reduce Scotland's dependency on fossil fuels.
The base itself is a state-of-the-art facility that will house a high-tech control room and a storage warehouse. It is expected to create around 50 high-skilled jobs, and the project developers are committed to employing local people where possible. The opening of the new base is a welcome development for Eyemouth, which has been underutilised in recent years. Christine Bell, from Eyemouth Harbour Trust, said that she was "thrilled" with the investment in the town. She also believes that the base will benefit many local businesses.
"The harbour has been underutilised in recent years, so it is great to see several million pounds of inward investment.” "So many local businesses will benefit from the base being here, it has to be a good thing for Eyemouth."
Christine Bell, from Eyemouth Harbour Trust
The development of the NnG wind farm and the opening of the new maintenance base are both positive steps towards Scotland's goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2045.