Minister of Energy Visits Fife Energy Park to Open Access Road (UK)

Work to create Scotland’s flagship Energy Park in Fife continues as Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism, Fergus Ewing, visited the site to officially open the new access road, review progress on the project and hear first-hand, future investment plans for the Park.

Since acquiring the former rig yard in 2005, Scottish Enterprise in conjunction with their development partners Fife Council, has invested almost £17 million in the 134 acre site.

The physical investment to date has been geared towards creating a world class location for Scotland’s growing renewables sector and includes:

• the creation of a new access road and entrance to the Park
• a major upgrade to quayside one
• dredging of the sea bed
• upgrading the utilities infrastructure
• enhancing coastal defence
• refurbishment of existing buildings
• installation of boundary fences

Phase two of the investment will consist of a major upgrade to quayside two, further improving access to the Park and undertaking coastal defence works.

Recognising the importance Energy Park Fife plays to the renewables sector, Mr Ewing said, “The road opens up more areas of the park and increases the appeal to potential investors.

“There is no doubt that the Energy Park Fife, with its resources and location, has the potential to play a leading role in the development of offshore wind in Scotland in the coming years as these offshore wind projects move into the build and deployment phase.”

Energy Park Fife is expected to have a cumulative contribution of up to £172 million to Scotland’s economy by 2015 and has already created several hundred jobs in the area.

Accompanying Mr Ewing on the visit, Scottish Enterprise’s managing director of operations, sectors and commercialisation, Paul Lewis said:

“Our investment in Energy Park Fife will help unlock the full potential of the Park and develop it into a world-class business location for companies in the renewable sector to invest and grow, creating new jobs and investment for Scotland.

“With its extensive acreage and deep water load-out facilities, and its close proximity to the offshore windfarm leasing sites in the North Sea, it is perfectly placed to service the European offshore wind market.”

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Offshore Wind Staff , December 19, 2011; Image: investinfiferenewables