Plans are moving ahead for a major wind project in the North Sea off Aberdeen.
BP and German energy company EnBW were last year awarded a ScotWind lease option for the Morven development.
The fixed-bottom project will have a total generating capacity of around 2.9 gigawatts - sufficient to power more than three million homes.
BP said last year that the success of the Morven bid was expected to unlock a number of investments as part of its integrated energy company approach, leveraging its existing North Sea infrastructure, skills and relationships and EnBW’s experience in offshore wind.
Along with the offshore wind development, these investments include significant expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Scotland and green hydrogen production.
These represent up to £10billion of investment in support of offshore wind and Scotland’s energy transition.
Lease agreement
BP and EnBW are now taking premises in Edinburgh which will become a base for Morven.
The partners will also bring a remote operating control centre to Aberdeen for their joint UK wind projects, of which there are three in development.
These developments are Morgan and Mona in the Irish Sea, and Morven.
The office in central Edinburgh is expected to open soon and will bring the team behind Morven closer to key stakeholders such as the Port of Leith.
Last year, BP and EnBW signed a reservation agreement for Leith to be the marshalling port for Morven, which will be nearly 40 miles offshore.
Richard Haydock, project director, offshore wind BP, told Energy Voice: “BP has a long and proud history in Scotland through our oil and gas business headquartered in Aberdeen.
Huge potential
“We continue to see huge potential for Aberdeen which will become BP’s global operations and maintenance centre of excellence for offshore wind.
“The expansion of our footprint to Edinburgh for our Morven project not only reaffirms our commitment to Scotland where we’re investing in ports, shipbuilding, and skills, but provides another hub for BP and EnBW to build and strengthen our partnership.”
The facilities in Edinburgh and Aberdeen are expected to create up to 120 new direct jobs.
Alex Schneeweiss, project director for Morven with EnBW, added: “The opening of the Morven joint-venture office marks a ‘first’ for EnBW in Scotland.
“We are delighted to come to Edinburgh. It is the ideal place with proximity to key stakeholders and partners, as well as a strong talent pool to further grow the BP and EnBW team to successfully deliver our Morven project.”
'Vote of confidence'
Ryan Crighton, policy director at Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, welcomed bp's further commitment to Aberdeen.
“BP expanding its Scottish footprint is a sign of the enormous opportunity that energy transition presents this country, and confirmation that Aberdeen will soon be home to both its North Sea Headquarters and its Centre of Excellence for Offshore Wind is a huge vote of confidence in our region," he said.
“Let’s be clear, these new industries can be run from anywhere in the world, but bp clearly values the skilled people and supply chain it has in the North-east of Scotland – relationships fostered over half a century in the harsh environs of the North Sea.
“The transition is a new chapter and a new opportunity for the energy sector - and with the right support from government, Aberdeen is in pole position to benefit from the green energy jobs and investment boom which is getting underway.”