Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey hails development at Port of Ardersier
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The politician called what is believed to be Europe’s first fully circular energy transition site “extraordinarily exciting”.
MP Ed Davey found out more about the multi-faceted project at the Port of Ardersier yesterday, saying it will be of the “vital importance” not just locally but to the UK’s transition to sustainable energy.
He was joined by fellow Lib Dem MP Jamie Stone and local councillor Trish Robertson, and was shown around the 400-plus acre site, which is expected to employ between 2000 and 3000 people by late 2024.
The group were briefed on the ambitious plans by marine director Steve Gobbi, who highlighted the “circular” aspect of the development saying that some rigs once built at Ardersier are likely to be decommissioned there too.
He went on to say the £20 million dredging work is going well, with 8000 cubic metres a day getting pumped out of the port ahead of thousands of people being taken on the year after next.
Mr Gobbi said the site would be vital for young people to be able to earn a good wage at a good job and hopefully offer them some chance to stay in the areas they are from, because the port is interested in the “long, long, long term”.
Mr Davey said: “What’s happening here at the port is extraordinarily exciting and vitally important. It will give a huge boost to the economy here in the Highlands, creating jobs way into the future.
“And it will meet the energy challenge of our country. It will tackle climate change. It will provide us with an ability for us to have cheap energy. Everyone’s worried about the energy bills at the moment, what’s clear now is that offshore wind and renewable energy is the cheapest form of electricity. Coming here and seeing the vision, I couldn’t be more excited and the great news for the Highlands, the great news for the UK is that it is the embodiment of the energy transition.
“It’s now mapping the transition and showing that the transition is possible.
The circular economy, the essence of it is they’re going to be decommissioning some of the frames and rigs that were constructed here in the first place.”
