Investment in Scotland’s offshore wind supply chain is set to strengthen renewable energy infrastructure in the Inner Moray Firth and Stornoway, while also creating new jobs and supporting long-term economic growth. The funding will help expand key facilities that are expected to play an important role in both fixed and floating offshore wind projects, reinforcing Scotland’s position in the clean energy transition.
A total of £3.9 million has been allocated to support infrastructure development at the Ardersier Energy Transition Facility in the Inner Moray Firth. The site is being positioned as a major hub for offshore wind activity and is expected to become the largest facility of its kind on the North Sea coast. Its development is intended to provide critical infrastructure for the growing offshore wind sector and improve Scotland’s capacity to support large-scale renewable energy projects.
In Stornoway, Navantia UK has been awarded £2.05 million toward a £5 million upgrade project at the Arnish yard. This investment is expected to create more than 75 jobs and will fund new plant and equipment that will allow the port to handle larger projects more efficiently. The upgrades are also designed to reduce energy consumption, making the facility more capable and more sustainable as demand for offshore wind infrastructure grows.
An additional £965,000 has been committed for pre-construction work at Arnish to prepare the site for further development. Over the next decade, Navantia expects its workforce at the yard to grow from 150 to 250 employees, including continued support for apprenticeships. The company currently employs 30 apprentices, highlighting the project’s role not only in job creation but also in building future skills in Scotland’s renewable energy and offshore fabrication sectors.
Scottish Government leaders have described offshore wind as one of the country’s biggest economic opportunities, with these investments expected to bring significant benefits to Lewis and the Highlands. The funding is aimed at boosting Scotland’s clean energy industry while creating well-paid, skilled employment and increasing economic opportunities in key regional communities.
Navantia UK said the funding will help speed up its investment programme at Arnish, building on the site’s strong history in complex offshore fabrication and its skilled workforce. The company believes the facility will be better placed to capture future opportunities across the wider energy market, especially in offshore wind, while creating long-term, high-quality jobs for the local community.
Haventus, the owner of Ardersier Port, also welcomed the funding and said strong alignment between national, regional and local government has been crucial in supporting the development of the facility. With Ardersier now entering its operational phase, the company sees the port as an important part of the UK’s future energy supply chain at a time when energy security is becoming increasingly important.
The funding is being delivered through Highlands and Islands Enterprise as part of a wider Scottish Government strategy to expand offshore wind capacity. To date, the Scottish Government has invested nearly £150 million in the offshore wind supply chain and port infrastructure. That support has helped attract an additional £70 million from UK public finance institutions and leveraged up to £670 million in private investment, showing how public funding is helping unlock much larger levels of sector growth and private capital.
