Power Scotland’s ports to unlock offshore wind manufacturing and cleaner shipping

Scotland’s ports can become major centres of clean electricity demand, unlocking offshore wind manufacturing and shore power investment, but coordinated action is needed to secure the infrastructure required, a new report commissioned by Scottish Renewables published today (October 12) has found.

Port Power – Electricity Demand in Scotland, prepared by specialist grid connections consultancy Roadnight Taylor, examines the changing electricity requirements of Scottish ports as they support offshore wind manufacturing and assembly, industrial electrification and maritime decarbonisation.

Ports have already committed significant investment to attract clean energy projects and strengthen Scotland’s offshore wind supply chain, including recent announcements at Montrose Port. Manufacturing, assembly, operations and maintenance activities can bring more economic value, while shore power can cut emissions from vessels at berth and improve local air quality.

However, grid constraints, consenting delays and electricity costs could prevent ports from realising these benefits and undermine investment already made. Scottish Renewables is calling for port demand to shape the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) and Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESPs), enabling faster consenting and coordinated network investment.

Drawing on interviews with representatives of 12 Scottish ports and harbours, the report identifies the following key findings:

• Ports have distinct electricity needs. Requirements range from incremental capacity for existing operations to substantial new demand from industrial tenants. Ports cannot be treated as a single, uniform demand category.
• Industrial growth is a major driver of demand. The highest electricity requirements are typically associated with onshore, tenant-led industrial projects. Offshore wind manufacturing and assembly are among the activities driving ports’ changing needs.
• Port investment and grid consents are not aligned. Ports have invested in infrastructure and capability, but consenting delays for new grid and offshore wind projects risk slowing or stranding that investment.
• Shore power needs a stronger commercial case. Constrained network capacity, upfront investment costs, electricity prices and uncertain vessel demand are limiting uptake.

The report recommends coordinated action across strategic planning, network investment, connections and wider energy policy, including:

• Embed ports in strategic energy planning. Ensure their requirements inform the SSEP, RESPs and network investment plans, reflecting the source, certainty, scale and timing of demand.
• Speed up grid consents and connections. Set clearer application routes, cut avoidable delays in decisions and improve access to demand queue data and guidance.
• Improve coordination and cost certainty. Clarify responsibilities across government and regulators, increase transparency on connection costs and explore flexible solutions where grid capacity is limited.
• Recognise how port investment works. Ensure connection reforms account for ports’ need to secure credible electricity capacity before tenants and finance are confirmed.

Angela Hepworth, CEO of Scottish Renewables, said:

"Scotland’s ports and harbours have already invested substantially in the infrastructure and capability needed to deliver our offshore wind potential. Consenting delays now risk holding back manufacturing investment and skilled jobs in coastal communities.

"Ports need secure electricity capacity to attract manufacturers and build on investment already made. National and regional energy plans must accelerate grid consents, coordinate network investment and provide greater certainty on connections.

"Getting this right will help ports secure new industrial investment and expand shore power, helping to reduce emissions and improve local air quality. Government and industry partners must move quickly to give Scotland’s ports the power they need to seize this generational opportunity."

Kyle Murchie, Specialist Connections Engineer at Roadnight Taylor, added:

"Many of Scotland's ports have ambitions that rely, in large part, on something less visible than traditional quaysides and cranes. That’s access to electricity. His Majesty The King's recent visit to Peterhead Port drawn welcome attention to the role ports can play in Scotland's energy future, at a time when the connections landscape is evolving rapidly and securing new capacity can be challenging.

"What struck us most was that no two of the 12 ports and harbours we spoke with shared the same needs. Some were seeking modest increases for existing operations, while others were planning for projects that could require a step change in capacity. Many of those ambitions centre on 2030, yet with a change in the connections landscape the time to power is uncertain and complex. Many ambitions are also central to the delivery of other new energy projects, hence ports are central to the green economy. 

"We're grateful to Scottish Renewables for the opportunity to carry out this research, and to the ports and harbours who shared their plans with us so openly. We hope this evidence might just help ports, other stakeholders, network companies, government and regulators plan next steps together."

Ends

Notes to editors:

• Port Power: Electricity Demand in Scotland was commissioned by Scottish Renewables and prepared by Roadnight Taylor.
• The research draws on confidential interviews with representatives of 12 Scottish ports and harbours, supplemented by publicly available information. It provides an initial evidence base rather than a definitive forecast of electricity demand across all Scottish ports.
• Shore power allows vessels to use electricity supplied from shore while berthed, reducing the use of onboard auxiliary engines, emissions, noise and vibration.
• The Scottish Offshore Wind Ports Alliance (SOWPA) details the capabilities of 15 ports and harbours across Scotland.
• Montrose Port Authority announced on September 22, 2026 that it will host SSE Renewables' Berwick Bank B Operations Base and Subsea Micropiles' new £5 million manufacturing facility.