Hopes are high that Dundee can attract more renewable-energy work after completion of the first offshore wind-turbine assembly project at the city’s docks.

Earlier this month, a wind-turbine tower was raised onto its floating steel base at the Port of Dundee’s Prince Charles Wharf.

Workers then completed the complex technical challenge of attaching the blades to the gearbox nacelle. The turbine will now be towed out to form part of the £250 million Kincardine Wind Farm which is under development around 15km offshore between Stonehaven and Aberdeen.

Port of Dundee manager David Webster said the project was the first of its kind to take place in the city.

“The floating semi-spar foundation came in last month, the tower sections, the nacelle and the blades were then assembled here.

This is the first of this kind of turbine, with the floating semi-spar foundation, and it is the first
turbine that we have assembled in Dundee.

“It is the second project we have carried out this year that has involved industry-leading renewable-energy technology. From a Port of Dundee perspective, it shows the marine and infrastructure capabilities that we can offer.”

At 2MW, this first turbine is significantly less powerful than the six larger units that will follow in the months to come. They will be among the most powerful turbines in the world, with potential ratings up to 8.4MW.

The Kincardine development is expected to produce enough renewable energy to power 56,000 homes.