Reaching out to the Local Supply Chain

 Buchan Offshore Wind - reaching out to the local supply chain

The Buchan Offshore Wind project continues to engage closely with local suppliers aiming to maximise Scottish content.

The Buchan Offshore Wind team has recently embarked on a series of visits to Scottish suppliers, led by Supply Chain Manager Adam Hollis. A key part of Adam’s job is to work with the Scottish manufacturing sector to secure investment, remove bottlenecks and enhance the amount of Scottish content within the Buchan Offshore Wind project.

The first stops were Montrose and Aberdeen to visit mooring suppliers FMS, Intermoor and Delmar. Over the last forty years, Scotland has developed a world leading moorings sector for the Floating Oil and Gas industry. This experience will provide an opportunity for Oil and Gas suppliers to transition into the Floating Wind industry, which is expected to create both a significant challenge and growth opportunity for the sector. The mooring suppliers provided an insight into how they are likely to innovate and standardise key elements such as synthetic rope, chain, anchors and suction buckets.

Later, Adam met with Mooreast, who are preparing to invest in a new anchor manufacturing facility in Aberdeen to meet the anticipated high demand created by ScotWind.

Next, the Buchan team visited Slipform Engineering to learn more about how slipform technology and processes can be used to create concrete floating foundations. The team were impressed by how the construction team can maintain a continuous flow of concrete and by the steady movement of the slipform structure.

Unlike with equivalent steel structures, concrete foundations can be manufactured with a high degree of Scottish content. It is anticipated that Buchan’s slip forming system could produce around one floating foundation per week. The project team also learned how important it is to secure a consistent aggregate supply and to perform adequate testing in advance.

Thanks again to the Managing Director, Eamon Hanley, for the site walkaround! 

Another key element needed for floating wind projects are synthetic ropes used for mooring systems. Adam was invited to visit Bridon-Bekaert Ropes Group’s Grangemouth facility by Greg Moszgai, Technology & Operations Director.

The Buchan team learnt more about rope properties such as rigidity, strength, and elasticity. Rope manufacturing is very complex, and there are a range of variables that must be considered, such as the core material, level of pre-load and coating. Adam was pleased to hear that the Grangemouth site is expanding to up to three times its current capacity thanks to the demand created by offshore wind. This will bring jobs and investment to the local area and ensure a higher amount of Scottish content in the supply chain.

Finally, Adam attended a two-day interactive workshop led by Kishorn Port & Dry Dock on a “Developer and Stakeholder Learning Journey”. The event was largely focused on investment in Kishorn Port to enable construction of concrete floating foundations and offshore substations. The port organised a site visit into the dry dock and a boat tour of the surrounding waters to appreciate the unique qualities that Kishorn has to offer.

Attendees included representatives from ScotWind developers, suppliers and other stakeholders.

Adam said:

“It’s our ambition at Buchan Offshore Wind to maximise the involvement of Scottish manufacturing. I am impressed with the technical sophistication and professionalism I’ve seen from potential suppliers and pleased to hear of their enthusiasm to expand due to offshore wind. As we continue to work with stakeholders, I am eager to see how the industry will progress further in order attain the highest possible degree of Scottish content within the Buchan Offshore Wind project.”