Weekly updates, 2nd & 9th April

Energy & Business services:

With more and more offshore turbine jackets now visible from the coasts of east Caithness and Sutherland, it is the less visible elements of the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm that are also now arriving. The final section of the 200kv offshore cable http://renews.biz/110704/cable-link-sets-sail-for-beatrice/

Enabling activities:

Recruitment began this week for the successor to CNSRP Independent Chair Sir Anthony Cleaver, whose last meeting as Chair of the Partnership’s Executive Board will be in June this year after ten years successfully leading CNSRP’s programme of work. Adverts will be appearing in the press and on social media, and you can see further details of the job role at http://www.cnsrp.org.uk/independent-chair/ The closing date for expressions of interest will be Friday April 27th at 3pm.

Communications:

As part of an ongoing process of helping communicate progress with the delivery of aspects of our economic transition programme CNSRP’s partners work together to generate news stories for local, regional and national media. I also speak on a regular basis to individuals and organisations across the area to update on progress. This week:

I mentioned recently that DP Energy and Floating Power Plant are pursuing a wave/ floating wind development at a site off the north coast of Caithness. Last week’s John O’ Groat Journal carried a story on the proposals, with comments from myself and Trudy Morris, CEO of Caithness Chamber of Commerce.

The latest edition of the Energy North supplement produced by Scottish Provincial Press is now available to read online. It carries an interesting piece on the development of a “Sector deal” between the offshore wind industry and the UK Government. Scottish Renewables is calling it an opportunity to build on the success of existing projects such as the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm project off the Caithness coast. http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=e8b1fbc0-c383-4f71-90af-ee5cbf43e6af and on a similar theme I have just provided a short piece for Dounreay’s magazine. I try to provide a bi-monthly story on an aspect of CNSRP’s work. Last time it was a look back at 2017 activities (available here on P15 https://dounreay.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/PR-NP2018-February-A2b.pdf ) and this time it will be on the subject of Ten Years of CNSRP.

CNSRP partner Highlands and Islands Enterprise is currently seeking Board members to serve for a three year period. Further info and how to apply is at http://news.hie.co.uk/all-news/board-members-wanted-for-highlands-and-islands-enterprise/ with a deadline for applications of 24th April.