SSE’s investment will be used to further develop this facility and this is expected to expand BiFab’s capabilities to a total annual capacity of up to 130 units. The investment follows BiFab’s delivery of jackets for the Greater Gabbard offshore wind project and its much earlier collaboration with SSE/Talisman on the Beatrice offshore wind farm demonstrator project.
BiFab is currently constructing 30 offshore structures for the Ormonde offshore wind project.
SSE has won offshore wind development rights as part of the Crown Estate’s Round 3 and Scottish territorial waters offshore wind development program. The company’s capacity share of these developments totals 6GW.
SSE and RWE npower renewables are already developing the 500MW Greater Gabbard offshore wind farm in the outer Thames Estuary and in December 2009. SSE entered into an agreement with Dong Energy to acquire a 25.1% stake in the 367MW Walney offshore wind farm in the Irish Sea, which is expected to become operational next year.
Ian Marchant, chief executive of SSE, said: “SSE is committed to becoming a major participant in the offshore wind market, and our current developments and success in securing development rights from the Crown Estate underline this.
“This investment in BiFab secures a reliable supply of offshore structures for our SSE Renewables business, from a manufacturer with a proven track record. It also provides our SSE Ventures business with an investment in a high-potential growth industry.
BiFab is a fabricator of structures and equipment for the oil and gas industry. It operates three fabrication facilities in Scotland, two in Fife and one at Arnish Point in Lewis, Stornoway.
