Approval was given by the HIE after close collaboration with Scottish Enterprise’s international division, Scottish Development International (SDI), to secure the project. 

The funding will support the delivery of an 18-month front-end engineering design (FEED) study spearheaded by the France-based company BW Ideol - a subsidiary of BW Ideol AS- which intends to develop an industrial facility at the port that is dedicated to the serial production of its Damping Pool concrete floating foundations.

In Scotland, BW Ideol boosted its long-term dedication to the Port of Ardersier via a partnership agreement inked in September 2021, which prompted exclusive access to the site for concrete foundations.

The FEED study will inform the project’s next phases. 

Energy Minister Stephen Gethins said: “Once complete, this production facility has the potential to generate over a thousand new well-paid, skilled jobs, as well as supply chain opportunities for businesses in the Highlands and across the country.

“That’s why the Scottish Government is backing its development with more than £778,000, as part of our wider strategic investment to develop Scotland’s ports and offshore wind chain …”

HIE chief executive Stuart Black said: “Renewable energy presents one of the biggest economic opportunities for the Highlands and Islands. 

“It’s important that we capitalise on this opportunity and that’s what these enabling investments are about.”

Black added: “This particular investment supports a critical step towards establishing large-scale floating wind manufacturing in the Highlands.”

Scottish Enterprise managing director of investment and international, Reuben Aitken, said: “Over half of Scotland’s 40GW potential offshore wind project pipeline is in floating wind. This positions Scotland as one of the world’s first large-scale floating wind markets.

“It’s fantastic to see international investors like BW Ideol recognise the scale of this opportunity and progress plans for a new facility at the Port of Ardersier.”

Aitken added: “Bringing together Team Scotland partners, we’ve helped the company secure the right location, unlock funding and connect the project into the wider energy ecosystem.”

BW Ideol chief executive officer Paul de la Guérivière said: “This first public sector backing is an encouraging signal for our Ardersier Floating Foundation Factory. 

“It supports a key phase of our feasibility studies and reflects growing institutional confidence in industrial-scale floating wind in Scotland.”