Ayre offshore wind farm is located to the east of Orkney and north-east of Caithness. It is being developed by owner Qair, a global leader in renewable energy. Once operational, it is expected to generate electricity to power more than 1.2 million households.

Members of the project team visited port facilities across Orkney and Caithness, including Kirkwall, Gills Bay, Scrabster, and Wick, to assess infrastructure, logistics capability, and long-term suitability. The O&M base will play a central role in supporting the long-term operation of the 1 GW project, which forms part of Scotland’s growing offshore wind pipeline.

Project Director, Ewan Walker, said: “Securing a long-term O&M base in the North of Scotland is a critical step for the Ayre project and a significant opportunity for local communities. We’re committed to ensuring benefits from the project, including high-quality permanent jobs and supply chain contracts, are realised locally.

“During our visit, we gained valuable insights to the capabilities of each port and we were able to outline our project requirements. We will continue working closely with partners as we refine our plans and explore how the project can deliver long-term value locally.”

The Ayre team also gave project updates to various groups including representatives from the Orkney Supply Chain, Orkney Island Council, Energy of Orkney, Focus North, North Highland Chamber of Commerce, The Highland Council, and Highlands & Islands Enterprise.

Walker added: “Orkney and Caithness have an excellent supply chain and existing skills base so as the project moves into construction and operation we want to maximise local opportunities. When meeting local representatives we’ve also discussed ways to attract new talent into the industry, ensuring the project is beneficial to local economies.”

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Read the article online at: https://www.energyglobal.com/wind/07052026/ayre-offshore-wind-farm-advances-plans-for-north-scotland-operations-base/