Peel Ports to invest GBP 150m to redevelop Hunterston for offshore wind

Peel Ports Group said on Tuesday it plans to invest up to GBP 150 million (USD 191m/EUR 176m) in the redevelopment of the Hunterston marine yard in Ayrshire, southwestern Scotland, to prepare it to support the offshore wind sector.

The port operator has started talks with several potential tenants for the offshore wind site.

Peel Ports added it has filed a planning application for the redevelopment and a competitive tender process for developers will be launched in the coming days. The consenting process is expected to be complete by the end of 2024, after which construction will take two years. The project will involve upgrades to the marine yard and utility services, including infilling the current dry-dock basin and construction of a new quay wall.

Peel Ports had conducted public consultations on the redevelopment at the end of 2023 and received initial expressions of interest from developers earlier this year.

“Our plans for Hunterston reflect our ambitions for a net-zero future, supporting offshore wind developments along the west coast of the UK and the east coast of Ireland, as well as supporting our local construction partners,” said Lewis McIntyre, managing director Port Services at Peel Ports Group.

The redevelopment is part of the transformation of the former Hunterston coal terminal into a renewables hub. A large portion of the site is already under option for an undersea energy cable factory and an onshore aquaculture facility.

(GBP 1 = USD 1.275/EUR 1.176)

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