Giant H2 hub will put jobs sunshine on Leith, chief proclaims
Edinburgh’s port of Leith is set to become “Scotland’s biggest renewable energy hub” in a £40 million development showcasing green hydrogen.
Around 1,000 direct full-time jobs, plus twice as many indirect roles, will be created on a dockside plot larger than 100 football pitches, developers Forth Ports promised today.
Centrepiece of the new Port of Leith Renewable Energy Hub will a berth capable of accommodating the world’s biggest ships installing offshore wind turbines. A heavy lift facility capable of 100 tonnes per square metre will be included.
The 175 acre site will be divided between 140 acres dedicated to manufacturing, assembly operations in marine & energy engineering, plus zones for marshalling & warehousing.
Since 2018, Forth Ports’ owners have been the Public Sector Pensions Board of Canada.
Forth Ports group chief executive Charles Hammond said, “This is a pump-priming investment in logistics and marine infrastructure, ..as we harness Scotland’s natural resources for future generations. It has the potential to play a significant part in our forthcoming Firth of Forth Green Port bid”.
“Leith’s proximity to the North Sea, which is set to become home to many more offshore wind developments, coupled with the natural deep waters of the Firth of Forth, makes this an ideal location to support not only those developments already planned, but the pipeline of projects that are sure to follow.”
Leith’s polis may please the US
Civic and industry leaders lined up to welcome the city’s green jobs bonanza.
Scottish Renewables chief executive Claire Mack said, “Such significant activity by Forth Ports …will act as a signal to draw other, wider private and public sector investment to grow the skills, expertise, innovation and supply chain we need to make the most of this exciting next phase of the renewable energy industry’s development.
“The Scottish Government’s Sectoral Marine Plan contains many sites for floating wind development”, she observed. “Coupled with investments in infrastructure capable of handling the scale of floating turbine technology, this means we have a chance to gain a foothold in a market with enormous economic and export opportunities, particularly in the US and Asia.
“Scotland can truly lead the world in offshore wind, and today’s news from Leith is the first step in that journey.”
With the leasing round still to come for the Crown Estate Scotland’s ScotWind project, offshore wind alone has the potential to create enough work for the new hub for the next 30 years, she claimed.
Overseas involvement in the development is yet to be confirmed. No letter from America has yet been received.
Adam McVey, Edinburgh’s council leader added, “The increase in jobs for Leith and Edinburgh is hugely welcome and underlines our economic resilience as a city”.
“The continuing regeneration of clean industry in the docks with the development of the Port of Leith Renewable Energy Hub is an important and welcome step in supporting the needed transition to a cleaner, greener future for the next generation.”
End.
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