£4m Oyster 800 fabrication contract awarded to Bifab
2 Dec 10
This week we awarded a £4 million contract to Scottish
fabrication contractor Burntisland Fabrications (BiFab) to build
our second Oyster wave power device.
BiFab will build our Oyster 800 wave energy converter over
the next six months at their manufacturing plant at Methil on the
Firth of Forth in Scotland. We will begin installation of
Oyster 800 at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) near
Stromness in Orkney in the summer of 2011.
Scottish Energy Minister Jim Mather welcomed our announcement by
saying:
"This is another great example of using the unrivalled potential
of our seas to generate clean, green energy and investment in a low
carbon Scotland. With Scottish Government financial support, this
project will support jobs at BiFab and allow the Oyster technology
to be tested, developed and refined at our world class testing
centre on Orkney. Working with our enterprise agencies and other
partners to develop our full potential, we will make Scotland a
global leader in marine energy."
Martin McAdam, our Chief Executive Officer, said:
"This contract demonstrates the jobs dividend that a thriving
marine energy industry can create.
"Strong support from both Scottish and UK governments has
enabled our company to leverage significant private sector
investment, and this is resulting in major manufacturing contracts
in Scotland and across the UK.
World-class fabrication contractor
"In selecting BiFab to manufacture our next-generation Oyster
device, Aquamarine Power has chosen a world-class fabrication
contractor with over 20 years experience in the offshore oil and
gas industry.
"Over recent years BiFab has applied its extensive offshore
experience to the emerging renewable energy sector. It is this
diversification and BiFab's reputation for innovation in its field
which has allowed the company to emerge as one of Scotland's
leading fabricators.
"Aquamarine Power is keen to support Scotland's manufacturing
industry. The award of this contract will not only guarantee
skilled fabrication jobs but will also strengthen Scotland's
position as a world-leader in the marine energy industry."
John Robertson, BiFab's Managing Director commented:
"We are delighted to be selected by Aquamarine Power for the
manufacture of Oyster 2. We are very impressed with the proactive
approach of their management and engineering teams. This is a very
exciting product with great potential and we are pleased that the
new design will be manufactured by BiFab here in Scotland.
"We look forward to a long term relationship between our
companies as Aquamarine Power continues to grow from strength to
strength.
Creating manufacturing jobs
"The renewables sector has the potential to create many
employment opportunities, and it is products like Oyster that will
be key to this. This is a good opportunity for UK manufacturing and
supply industries and an opportunity not to be missed."
Lena Wilson, Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise, said:
"Following equity investment and R&D funding from Scottish
Enterprise, Aquamarine Power has continued to make major progress
in generating renewable energy from ocean waves, and I am delighted
that the next generation of the company's innovative Oyster wave
device will be built by BiFab.
"Earlier this year, Scottish Enterprise approved a £6m package of
assistance to enable BiFab to expand its operations at Fife Energy
Park, so it's fantastic to see this site being used to assist the
growth of these two ambitious Scottish companies.
"Scotland has really world-class renewables companies in
Aquamarine Power and BiFab, and it's gratifying to see them working
together for an even greater impact on the Scottish renewables
industry."