Over the past 12 months, Caithness has become a real hive of activity, with major national projects beginning to take material form.

For a number of years, the far north has been viewed by key players in the renewables industry as a potential centre for operations which will see Scotland hailed among the most important energy sites in Europe, if not globally. With so much groundwork having been laid behind the scenes, 2016 has finally seen real, tangible development as the promise of investment and industry begins to materialise into a physical presence.

The largest and most widely recognised of these is the MeyGen development in the Inner Sound of the Pentland Firth, which can be seen progressing on a daily basis from the mainland at John O’Groats and Gills Bay. In October, ballast blocks were successfully installed on the seabed, with local supply chain companies such as Scrabster Harbour and JGC Engineering & Technical services playing a key role, and early November saw the first of four 1.5MW turbines fitted and generating first power, which is now being exported. Over time, 269 turbines will be installed here, making it the world’s largest tidal energy farm.

The second big announcement, made by SSE in October, confirmed that the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Ltd (BOWL) Operations and Maintenance base will be created in Wick, regenerating two disused industrial buildings in the town’s historic Lower Pulteneytown, which overlooks Wick Harbour. This will have a huge impact on the area, with benefits for residents, future employees and local businesses alike, with the potential to enhance the heritage of the site as well as general quality of life for the community.

Following discussions with Wick Harbour Authority, BOWL has proposed the removal of a disused slipway, aiming to replace it with pontoons providing safe berthing for the project’s vessels, further developing the harbour quay’s facilities. The MeyGen and BOWL projects have made a vital injection into the health of the county’s harbours at Wick, Gills and Scrabster, the latter having also undergone substantial upgrading including the addition of Jubilee Quay, giving cause for the substantial upgrade of facilities and enabling them to meet growing demand for services here.

In addition to the creation of many new jobs, and utilisation of the area’s skilled and diverse businesses in contractual works, the expansion and upgrade of the harbours makes the attraction of future initiatives taking root here viable. The success seen by Atlantis with MeyGen has heralded the arrival of a whole new industry in the form of marine energy, and Caithness is now primed to stand at the forefront of this innovation. Meanwhile, the long-term investment confirmed by BOWL in the infrastructure at the heart of Wick will ensure stable, consistent progress in the county’s economic and employment opportunities. 

And, of course, Caithness Chamber of Commerce will be on hand throughout this exciting new journey to facilitate relations between the project leaders and local stakeholders.