Big wins for Scottish supply chain as Global Energy Group and Salamander floating wind project team up

The Salamander project developed by Simply Blue Energy in partnership with Subsea 7 has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Global Energy Group (GEG) to collaborate in the design, development and execution planning of the Salamander floating wind project.

The Salamander project previously announced a Joint Venture with Subsea 7 to develop the Salamander floating offshore wind project off the North East coast of Scotland as well as a collaboration agreement with Ocergy to evaluate their floating foundation concept. The aim of the project is to provide a ‘stepping-stone’ to bridge the gap between current demonstrator projects and the future commercial projects leased in the ScotWind process. The project is intended to provide a firm pipeline for the Scottish supply chain and to demonstrate the ability to achieve a significant amount of local content (in line with or beyond the Offshore Wind Sector deal ambitions), paving the way for securing additional local content within the later ScotWind commercial scale developments. The pre-selection of Ocergy as the project’s foundation concept was underpinned by its ability to maximise Scottish local content.

The collaboration agreement signed with GEG is the culmination of a broad engagement with the Scottish supply chain undertaken by the Salamander project in the last 6 months, including a seminar with the DeepWind cluster members. Salamander and GEG intend to work side-by-side to ensure that the project is developed in a way to maximise the floating platform content that can be placed within the Scottish supply chain. This fits perfectly with the project’s ambition to provide a ‘stepping stone’ effect to support local supply chain for future commercial projects as well as the Scottish Government’s ambitions for floating wind and the Scottish supply chain explained in the Offshore Wind Policy Statement.

Collaboration between Salamander and GEG at an early stage of project development:

• Provides direct input to the design process for the supply chain experts to enable optimisation of the structural design for assembly within the Scottish supply chain
• Ensures that Scottish supply chain can be ready for future commercial floating offshore wind projects by building knowledge and project experience
• Provides the greatest possible visibility to the supply chain of our project requirement so that they can have the confidence to build capability
• Provides visibility over project pipeline
• Reduces cost and provide better value to the energy consumers

Adrian de Andres, Salamander Project Director said: “This partnership between the Salamander project and GEG materialises the project’s commitment to the Scottish supply chain. We are focused on adapting our project so that we can maximise the potential for local jobs in assembly and manufacturing. The signing of this collaboration agreement will enable the Salamander team to have access to the expertise of one of the standout fabrication and marshalling facilities within Scotland. Furthermore, we are committed to pioneer a new way of working with the supply chain, developing a collaboration and partnership relationship since the very early stages of project development.”

Iain Sinclair, GEG’s Executive Director and Head of Renewables & Energy Transition said: “There is great alignment between the vision behind the Salamander project and GEG’s strategic ambition. Our current and future planned capabilities are well suited to this exciting project and going forward, floating wind will play a central role in Global Energy Group’s business growth plans. We believe this partnership with the Salamander project will enhance GEG’s position as a world leader for floating wind fabrication and assembly ‘Stepping-stone’ projects like Salamander are important for the Scottish energy transition supply chain. They ensure that local content can be realised in floating wind commercial projects and collaborations like this are a further positive step towards achieving the UK Government’s 60% local content ambition from the Offshore Wind Sector Deal"

Maree Todd, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross said: “I’m delighted to hear of this collaboration between Global Energy Group and the Salamander floating wind project which puts Caithness, Sutherland & Ross right at the centre of innovative developments in renewable energy. Our potential in floating wind is vast and unique. By utilising this asset, which we have in abundance in the Cromarty Firth, we are feeding into the local supply chain, creating high-skilled jobs and boosting the local economy, all while tackling climate change. This project very much aligns with the Scottish Government’s net-zero ambitions and considering what it offers the communities I represent, I’m excited to see it come to fruition.”

Who are Simply Blue?

Simply Blue Group are the leading early-stage developer of transformative and sustainable marine projects in the UK and Ireland. Established as a blue economy developer in 2011, Simply Blue has grown rapidly to become the leading developer of pioneering sustainable marine projects in the UK and Ireland. Initially focusing on floating offshore wind and wave technology as Simply Blue Energy, Simply Blue expanded into the growing sustainable aquaculture sector with the establishment of Simply Blue Aquaculture in 2018. Blue Gem Wind, a joint venture partnership with energy giant Total, is currently developing the Erebus 96MW floating offshore wind project, along with another larger project off the Pembrokeshire coast. Situated off the south coast of Ireland, Emerald, another floating offshore wind project, is also in development, with Simply Blue having recently formed a joint venture partnership with Shell to progress this.

Simply Blue’s mission is to raise awareness of the oceans’ potential, pioneer marine project development and collaborate with partners to build a sustainable blue economy and communities. With a team of over 30 and growing, Simply Blue is actively progressing numerous other projects in the UK, Ireland and in other jurisdictions around the world. To find out more visit: www.simplybluegroup.com

Who are Global Energy Group?

Founded in 2005, Global Energy Group (“GEG”) is one of the UK’s leading Energy sector services providers.

Owners and operators of the Port of Nigg, a world class facility boasting unrivalled quayside and laydown areas together with sheltered deep-water access, ideally located to support the future offshore wind market.

GEG employs more than 1,500 people and is the largest private employer in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland and a significant employer in Aberdeen and Edinburgh and are at the forefront of the global energy transition towards a net zero, low carbon economy.