THE organisation behind two planned offshore windfarms off the East Lothian coast has invited local businesses to join an online event outlining opportunities for supply chain participation.

SSE Renewables, which will be constructing Berwick Bank and Marr Bank windfarms, will use the event to highlight opportunities to businesses.

Louise Davis, consents team manager for Berwick Bank Wind Farm, said: “At SSE Renewables, we are leading the way in delivering the new offshore wind energy we need to help achieve a net-zero carbon future while creating employment within communities local to our projects.

“For our Berwick Bank and Marr Bank offshore windfarm proposals, we want to help build more local, regional and national supply chain jobs in Scotland and the UK.

“We are committed to supporting the development and growth of a competitive supply chain and this webinar event will provide an opportunity for businesses of all sizes and across a range of specialisms to hear from the project team at this early stage in the plans.

“We want to ensure the local supply chain fully engages with us and the opportunities available from these multi-billion-pound developments, so we are grateful for the help provided by local Chambers of Commerce to create awareness.”

The package of works potentially on offer for supply chain companies includes: general support services, environmental, turbines, onshore substructures and foundations, transportation and installation, ports and related services, onshore substations, onshore cables, operations and maintenance.

Berwick Bank and Marr Bank would be located in the outer Firth of Forth, over 49km and 40km respectively from the East Lothian coast.

At 2.3 gigawatts (GW), the Berwick Bank project is expected to comprise of up to 242 offshore wind turbines. It would be capable of generating enough renewable energy to power 3.5 million homes annually, more than all the homes in Scotland, and reduce carbon emissions by 4 million tonnes each year, helping power Scotland’s push towards net-zero carbon emissions by 2045.

Marr Bank is projected to be 1.85GW.

A spokesperson for Midlothian and East Lothian Chamber of Commerce said: “Berwick Bank and Marr Bank offshore windfarms represent multi-billion investments and we are keen to see as many local businesses as possible involved in these projects. We welcome this supply chain webinar, which highlights the opportunities connected to the offshore wind farms.

“Like SSE Renewables, we want to see more local, regional and national supply chain jobs in Scotland, and we hope interested businesses in East Lothian and Midlothian register and take part.”

The online event is on Friday (April 16), 2-3pm, and companies can register to join via sserenewables.com/berwickbank