The first shipment of XXL monopile foundations for Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm has arrived at the Port of Leith, marking the start of a new offshore construction phase for the project and a new era for the recently completed Forth Ports’ renewables hub.
The 1.1 gigawatt Inch Cape will be the first to utilize the transformed port facility, where components for all the project’s 72 foundations will be offloaded, marshalled, stored, and then loaded out for installation after completion works.
The first eight XXL monopile foundations were transported by a heavy transport vessel which docked at the recently-opened deep water riverside Charles Hammond Berth.
The berth was redeveloped as part of a US$201.1 million investment programme at the 175-acre site, which included US$67 million committed based on the Inch Cape work, Forth Ports’ largest ever offshore wind contract.
The arrival of the first XXL monopiles, each up to 103 meters long, weighing around 2,300 tonnes and with diameters of 11.5 meters, marks the start of an intensive construction phase for the flagship Scottish project.
John Hill, Project Director of Inch Cape, said that Monopile supplier CWHI has done an outstanding job, fabricating the monopiles on time, within budget, and with more than a million hours of safe work.
The project will comprise 54 XXL monopiles and transition pieces, and 18 three-legged jacket foundations with three pin piles per jacket, all being delivered to Leith prior to installation.
As activity ramps up, more than 100 people will work at the site delivering the project, with Forth Projects (part of the Forth Ports Group) as principal contractor.
The Charles Hammond Berth features a heavy lift capability of up to 100 tonnes per square meter, with 175 acres of adjacent land for associated renewables logistics, marshalling, and manufacturing.
The installation of the XXL monopile foundations will start before year-end using the Jan De Nul heavy lift vessel Les Alizés and will continue into 2026.
Inch Cape will comprise 72 Vestas 15MW turbines and a single offshore substation that was installed at the North Sea site in early August.
First power is expected in late-2026 with full commercial operations in 2027.
Inch Cape is owned in a 50/50 equal joint venture by ESB and Red Rock Renewables, and once complete will generate almost five terawatt hours of energy annually or enough to power half the homes in Scotland.
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