CFPA Supports Renewable Industry
Handling over 150 complete wind turbines units in the last five years, operator of one of Scotland’s premier deepwater ports, Cromarty Firth Port Authority (CFPA), has established itself as a renewable energy centre for the import, logistics and storage of wind farm components. For many years the Invergordon service base has been recognised worldwide as a hub for its Inspection, Repair and Maintenance (IRM) of oil rigs and subsea engineering, with key tenants such as RBG and Global Energy. However, the growth of the marine renewable industry has seen the Cromarty Firth take on a new lease of life in recent years and CFPA has invested heavily in its facilities to reflect its new position.
The majority of CFPA’s work has involved the storage and shipping of wind turbines ranging from 1-2 mW units at the service base. However, it has also been involved in providing full assembly and installation support to the two 5 mW Beatrice test wind turbines and Aquamarine’s test Oyster wave energy converters were fabricated on the banks of the Firth.
Captain Ken Gray, chief executive at CFPA said: “We are well established in the inshore wind sector but for offshore wind we have the advantage of deep sheltered waters suitable for large vessels. We intend to build on our experience and the excellent track record we have achieved in oil and gas engineering and logistics to support the developing offshore renewable industry both in the installation and future long term maintenance phases. We look at exhibiting at All-Energy as being our shop window to demonstrate our ability to service this very important growing market for Scotland.”