The establishment in the 1970s of a major industrial base at Ardersier to construct North Sea oil platforms appeared to presage a bright future for the whole area by shoring up the local economy, once dependent on fishing.
The loss of that fabrication yard in 2002 left local people in a state of uncertainty, so news that plans are afoot to convert the site into a major manufacturing centre for the offshore wind industry – enabling Ardersier to ride the wave of another North Sea energy boom – is heartening.
Scotland's potential as a base for renewable energy manufacturing and expertise, and a source of that energy in the form of wind, wave and tidal power, has been championed by Scottish Government ministers of different political hues for more than a decade. There is a real need for wind turbine manufacturing bases in Scotland and where better than at Ardersier, which already has a deep-water quay, not to mention being well placed to serve new major offshore wind farms in the Moray Firth? A proposal for the world's largest offshore wind farm east of Caithness has the backing of councillors in the Highlands and will soon go before Scottish Government ministers for consideration.
There are justifiable concerns about the impact of too many onshore turbines on Scotland's landscape, but the development of offshore sites should mollify many wind farm critics, Donald Trump excepted. One person's eyesore is another's dramatic landmark, so those who object to offshore sites on principle will need to do more than condemn their visual impact. There is also a widespread concern among Scots about the effects of man-made climate change and an acceptance of the need to end Scotland's dependence on fossil fuels. Polls on the issue repeatedly confirm that Scots want to see a majority of their electricity produced from renewable sources. The Scottish Government has committed itself to ensuring that the equivalent of 100% of Scotland's electricity needs is derived from renewables by 2020. That requires the construction of new wind farms, as part of the renewable energy mix.
Scotland has an opportunity to become a world leader in wind turbine manufacture on a grand scale, but the competition from other countries will only intensify with time. Seizing opportunities such as this to capitalise, not only on an existing site but also on local engineering expertise, can help to achieve that.
There is always an inherent danger, of course, in hailing a new industry as the saviour of a community; the closure of the McDermott fabrication yard in Ardersier in 2002 after 30 years illustrates that only too clearly. The commitment of both the Scottish and UK governments to support the growth of the renewables industry, however, makes the development of this and other sites a reliable investment. The focus now should be on turning the vision into reality with alacrity.
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