AN AYRSHIRE marine yard has secured planning permission for a £150 million upgrade to its infrastructure to pave the way for its transitions to renewables.
Peel Ports Clydeport has secured permission from the local authorities for the redevelopment of the Hunterston marine yard as it prepares the site for major renewables infrastructure.
The work is expected to start in early 2025 and last for around two years and will include upgrades to the marine yard, including infilling the current dry-dock basin and the creation of a new quay wall.
The marine yard is set to see a string of renewable projects completed in the future as the coal terminal is set to transition into a leading hub for the blue and green economies.
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Highview Power is among the renewable projects that are either underway or in the pipeline, at the site, as the firm recently announced it is to construct the world’s largest Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES) facility.
The overall redevelopment of Hunterston is expected to attract around £3.5 billion in investment and create more than 5000 jobs.
Lewis McIntyre, managing director of port services at Peel Ports Group, said there would be no energy transition without ports and that harnessing the potential like the Ayrshire marine yard is “key” for Scotland to achieve Net Zero.
He said: “Hunterston is set to become a major facilitator of the UK energy transition, and this decision is a big step forward in making that happen. It also proves that the west coast is going to play a huge role in renewables.
“There will be no energy transition without ports, and harnessing the potential of sites like Hunterston is key to achieving the UK’s net-zero goals.
“The knock-on benefits for the local and national economies are also significant. We look forward to working with the policymaking community to create the investment conditions we need to replicate the success of Hunterston at other sites across the country.”
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