Temporary Floating Ports for Offshore Wind Study

Scotland aims to be a leader in industries that shape the transition to net zero. One of the biggest opportunities to grow Scotland’s energy transition is in the offshore wind (OSW) sector.

Existing port capacity is widely recognised as insufficient to meeting the OSW build-out rates required and capacity must be expanded to accommodate the basic OSW marshalling, assembly, integration functions, and manufacturing facilities. 

Developing and expanding ports with the appropriate characteristics, including adequate laydown area, load capacity, lifting capability, and quayside depth is complex, costly, and will take a number of years to put in place.

To alleviate reliance on conventional port infrastructure, several companies proposed floating/temporary port concepts or other innovative deployment technologies. For this reason, Scottish Enterprise commissioned Arup to review these concepts.

This study aimed to:

• Inform Scottish Enterprise about the technical development status of the concepts, their applicability to the OSW market, associated costs, and timescales
• Support an improved understanding of the role that floating port concepts could play alongside conventional ports in support of OSW deployment
• Inform the position of Scottish Enterprise and wider stakeholders in relation to the development and deployment of these technologies.

Potential case studies* were identified based on information provided by Scottish Enterprise and a desk study review by Arup. The extent of information available for this review was dependant on the level of technological development and willingness of the proponents to share it within the context of the study. An industry workshop involving offshore wind developers, port representatives, and installation contractors was held to inform the study.

Scottish Enterprise and Arup are grateful to the technology proponents who offered their time and information for their concepts.

The review of technologies focused on the following criteria:

• Port functions
• Technological readiness
• Implementation process
• Consenting considerations
• Adaptability
• Cost
• Programme

*The list of case studies is not exhaustive and other floating port or port augmentation technologies targeted at the OSW sector may be in development by other parties.

• The concept of a ‘floating port’ to support OSW deployment is likely to be technically feasible, particularly if it is to be deployed in relatively sheltered waters.
• The concepts considered appear to be best suited to operating in relative proximity to and in combination with conventional port infrastructure, rather than as entirely independent facilities. For example, floating platforms could provide quay extensions, quay ‘spacers’ to deeper water etc.
• The technologies considered are at different stages of development and may benefit from funding to develop detailed site-specific proposals along with input from the OSW and ports sectors.
• Floating port concepts would likely allow additional capacity to be developed where further land reclamation is not feasible.
• Consenting risks, including risk of delay and risk of non-approval, are likely to be lower for floating port concepts than conventional port expansions in some cases.

To progress a floating port project for the OSW sector, wide input from numerous parties, including multiple OSW developers, the OSW supply chain and contractors (such as likely users), nearby conventional port operators, a Statutory Harbour Authority, regulators, technical certifiers, and investors would likely be required.

To progress the consideration of these concepts, Scottish Enterprise plans to engage further with the aforementioned stakeholders to discuss the report, its findings, and next steps with technology designers and developers, amongst others.