Coast Renewable Services (CRS) is an award-winning firm which has been based in Dundee since its foundation in 2013. From modest beginnings as a garage-based start-up, it has gone from strength to strength in the renewables industry that is growing exponentially in the face of the need for green energy.
Three years ago, CRS moved to Port of Dundee, which provides excellent access to the services and facilities required via its £40m infrastructure investment, to aid the company’s growth.
CRS is currently working on wind farm contracts in Scandinavia, Ireland and the UK. In the past year it has taken on dozens of staff, taking the total number of employees to 80, with the potential to double this in the next few years as demand for its technical services is growing, both out in the field and at its portside office.
CRS is able to exploit the growing interest in renewable energy – wind-generated energy in particular – which is attracting energy businesses such as SSE Renewables, EDF Renewables and Inchcape Offshore Ltd to Dundee and the region. Dundee’s location and proximity to wind farm projects of the east coast of Scotland along with the multi-million-pound investment in its port by Forth Ports Ltd, is playing an important part in the decision of such businesses to establish roots in the city.
As well as securing work in the present, CRS is developing links with nearby Dundee & Angus College to educate and train young people in renewable energy technologies, many of whom it is hoped will go on to work in the renewable energy sector businesses including CRS.
CRS is also looking to work with the Scottish government to secure funding for equipment and teaching apparatus to train young people studying at the new Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc (MSIP) in Dundee. The 32-hectare parc is a joint venture between Michelin, Dundee City Council, and Scottish Enterprise. Its facilities include industrial space, a skills academy complete with 3,300ft² of flexible teaching space which will house a series of emerging technology courses, along with an innovation hub, campus and laboratories, all with a focus on green and sustainable energy. As a part of its investment criteria, MSIP is working on a 10-year plan to create around 800 new low carbon and sustainable jobs.
Industry context
Increasing government support for renewable energy activities has boosted the demand for services that CRS offers. The Scottish government recently announced the next phase of its offshore wind strategy, with 4GW either operational or under construction. The next leasing round, ScotWind 1, was announced in early 2022, with almost 25GW of additional capacity and an oil and gas decarbonisation round could add a further 4.5GW of projects.
This is hugely encouraging, both for the renewable energy sector in Scotland and for Dundee in particular, as the city grows into becoming a centre of excellence for the renewable energy sector. Dundee City Council has committed to being a key partner in the Forth and Tay Offshore Cluster which is one of eight UK offshore wind clusters that CRS is a member of. Forth & Tay Offshore Cluster aims to accelerate and grow the offshore energy sector on the east coast of Scotland, and to make Forth and Tay an attractive location for supply chain development and business investment.
As growth across the renewable energy industry is assured given the scaling back of fossil fuel reliance, there are plenty of opportunities for businesses in the sector to locate in Dundee. The city has designated industrial land for supply chain investment and new waterfront grade A office accommodation. The Port’s strategic location on the east coast of Scotland, which lies equidistant from Aberdeen and Edinburgh and with unrestricted access to the North Sea, is adjacent to the city ring road, providing fast and efficient road links in and out of the city that reaches 90% of Scotland within 90 minutes’ drive.
CONTACT
Ellie Robson
Digital Administrator, Coast Renewable Services
ellie@coastrenewableservices.com
Caroline Morgan
Lead Officer, Energy and Business Development, Dundee City Council
caroline.morgan@dundeecity.gov.uk
QUICK FACTS
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Goal 7. Affordable and Clean Energy
Goal 8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
Goal 9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
X
Linkedin