Study reveals NnG Offshore Wind Farm will make major contribution to Scottish economy
- 2,000 jobs for Scotland over four year construction period
- Scotland’s next major infrastructure project after Queensferry Crossing
A study of the Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm (NnG), carried out by the Fraser of Allander Institute at the University of Strathclyde, has estimated that over the lifetime of the project it will generate an economic impact equivalent to 0.6% of Scotland’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). After the completion of the new Queensferry Crossing, NnG will be Scotland’s next major infrastructure project.
The study into the economic effects of this £2bn infrastructure project also reveals that NnG will create 13,900 person years of employment across its construction and operational phases.
Published today, 28th August, 2017, the report was commissioned by Mainstream Renewable Power, developers of NnG, in order to evaluate and fully understand the project’s impact on the Scottish economy.
The highlights of the study (attached) are:
- The impact on Scottish GDP (in 2016 terms) is equivalent to 0.6% of the country’s onshore GDP, or £827.4m over the lifetime of the project
- Some £382m of additional activity will be generated in Scotland’s construction industries, with a further £440.2m in the services sector.
- 13,900 person years of employment will be supported by NnG over the course of its lifetime
- 8,000 person years during its four-year construction phase – equating to an average of 2,000 Scottish jobs for every year of construction
- 5,900 person years during its 25-year operational phase – equating to an average of 236 Scottish jobs for every year of operation
Commenting on the study, Dr Stuart McIntyre of the Fraser of Allander Institute, said:
“This study investigated the wider economic impacts on the Scottish economy of Mainstream Renewable Power’s anticipated expenditure on the NnG project. Our study shows that, based on information provided to us about the expected size of this project and the anticipated spend within Scotland, there could be an impact on the Scottish economy over the 30 year lifetime of this project equivalent to 0.6% of Scottish GDP in 2016.”
Andy Kinsella, Chief Operating Officer at Mainstream Renewable Power, said:
“We have always known that NnG, as a large scale energy infrastructure project, is important for the Scottish economy. The results of the Fraser of Allander Institute’s study show the full extent of NnG’s impact on the Scottish economy for the first time. The study confirms that NnG will support the creation or retention of large numbers of high skilled, high quality jobs in Scotland during construction and its 25 year operational lifetime.
“The NnG Offshore Wind Farm Coalition, launched this month, has called on RSPB Scotland to abandon its legal action challenging this project and three others. Today’s report shows the full extent of the economic benefit to Scotland put at risk by this ongoing action. I would ask RSPB Scotland to listen to this call and allow the project to move forward into construction. In doing so, Scotland will reap both the economic and the climate change benefits of a green energy project capable of supplying the electricity needs of a city the size of Edinburgh while displacing 400,000 tonnes of CO2 per annum.”
