Aberdeen has been selected as the strategic and operational headquarters for Green Volt, a joint venture between Flotation Energy and Vårgrønn, paving the way for the development of Europe’s first commercial-scale floating offshore windfarm.
Green Volt said up to 40 direct jobs are to be based at the Aberdeen HQ, which is expected to trigger around £2.5 billion of investment and 2,800 jobs in construction.
It said the announcement follows the UK Government’s decision to headquarter Great British Energy in Aberdeen.
Green Volt will be located 50 miles off Peterhead with up to 35 floating turbines generating 560 megawatts of electricity to supply the grid and deliver green power to nearby oil and gas platforms.
Developers Flotation Energy and Vårgrønn said they took the decision for Green Volt’s HQ following a successful Contracts for Difference (CfD) award in September from the UK Government.
This followed on after Marine Scotland and Aberdeenshire Council gave offshore and onshore planning consent earlier this year.
“Aberdeen was selected for its world-renowned expertise, innovation and its status as home to the largest concentration of subsea supply chain companies in Europe, making it a natural choice in which to anchor all strategic and operational decisions for this key energy infrastructure project,” said Green Volt.
“Flotation Energy and Vårgrønn have committed to significant Scottish supply chain investment spend, with Green Volt expected to generate at least £800m for domestic suppliers and place Scotland at the leading edge of this burgeoning new floating wind industry.
“The project is the first major commercial development for floating wind in Europe, made possible through the joint efforts of industry, UK and Scottish Governments to efficiently clear planning milestones and access to the CfD.
“Green Volt will provide a vital stepping stone to wide scale deployment of floating offshore wind in Britain, contributing to the UK Government goal to develop five gigawatts by 2030.”
Flotation Energy CEO Nicol Stephen said: “Aberdeen is the ideal headquarters for Green Volt – set to be the world’s largest floating windfarm.
“It places the city at the very centre of the energy transition, building on its deserved reputation as a global energy capital and a subsea centre of excellence. Green Volt in Aberdeen will allow the project to benefit from the region’s world class offshore skills – and will be a significant boost to the city’s energy transition.
“Green Volt is a trailblazing, multibillion pound project which will kickstart jobs and investment by companies right across the Scottish offshore supply chain. The choice of our HQ in Aberdeen is clear evidence of our strong commitment to support local jobs and businesses wherever possible.
“We also look forward to the exciting opportunity of working closely with GB Energy, the Energy Transition Zone, OEUK and the NSTA – especially as they have all decided to locate their headquarters in Aberdeen.
“It is a transformative time for the city. You can sense some real and exciting momentum growing for Aberdeen and the North East.”
Vårgrønn CEO Stephen Bull: “Aberdeen is the ideal choice to house the Green Volt project organisation. The UK’s success story within offshore wind has been built on the shoulders of the oil and gas industry.
“Aberdeen is at the heart of a globally competitive offshore supply chain which will bring innovation and opportunities for the whole offshore wind sector. We can’t wait to get going in the Granite City.”
“Designed through Crown Estate Scotland’s INTOG (Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas) leasing round, Green Volt will deliver power to the grid and to offshore oil and gas platforms, displacing heavy-emitting diesel and gas generators, that account for around 70% of offshore oil and gas emissions.
“Green Volt will aid the industry in its goal of halving emissions by 2030 and deliver a significant contribution to Scottish and UK net zero targets.
“It comes as Flotation Energy and Vårgrønn, look ahead to Cenos, a much larger 1.4-gigawatt project, around 125 miles off Aberdeen in the Central North Sea. Cenos requires similarly joined-up efforts across industry, UK and Scottish Governments for timely planning and consent approvals and access to the CfD mechanism.”