Scotland's clean energy supply chain is set to benefit from a significant boost following the relaunch of the North Sea Transition Authority's (NSTA) Energy Pathfinder portal, an online platform designed to advertise lucrative contracts.

The revamped platform has garnered strong support from leading clean energy trade bodies, including Scottish Renewables and RenewableUK, who are now actively encouraging their members to promote wind energy contracting opportunities.

The initiative, also backed by the Offshore Wind Industry Council and the Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council, aims to provide greater clarity for the supply chain regarding upcoming work, both onshore and in the North Sea. This improved visibility is expected to enable businesses to invest in skills and technologies with confidence and ensure resources are available when required.

The announcement coincided with the official launch of the upgraded Pathfinder portal on Monday, 17 June at the Global Offshore Wind conference in London, where industry professionals were given a demonstration of the platform.

Emma Harrick, Director of the Supply Chain and Energy Transition at Scottish Renewables, commented: "Clean energy already supports 47,000 jobs in Scotland and as the industry continues to grow, so do opportunities for suppliers across Scotland and the UK. Scottish Renewables has worked closely with the Energy Pathfinder team and our members to tailor the portal for our industry. The portal now provides on and offshore wind businesses with clear visibility of available tender invitations while enabling developers to connect with a broader network of local companies. This marks a positive step forward in improving access to opportunities for the growing clean energy supply chain and we encourage not only project buyers but also tier 1 contractors and all levels of the supply chain ecosystem to make full use of the platform."

-- Advertisement --

Originally established in 2010 to assist offshore service companies in identifying opportunities within oil and gas field developments, Pathfinder has expanded its scope in recent years. It now includes details of well decommissioning campaigns, operations and maintenance programmes, and a growing number of energy transition projects, such as carbon storage.

The platform currently lists information for over 20 offshore wind projects, which are now clearly categorised as either floating or fixed-bottom following the recent upgrade. With the enhanced support from Scottish Renewables and RenewableUK, the portal provides more specific details about these technologies and their associated contracts. It is anticipated that these improvements will encourage more wind energy developers to utilise the portal, establishing it as a central hub for the industry. This will, in turn, provide the supply chain with greater visibility of tender opportunities across the energy sector, allowing them to diversify their customer base and contribute their expertise towards ambitious government targets for clean power deployment.

Pathfinder serves as a free, comprehensive resource for information on opportunities to support numerous energy projects across the UK. Wind developers are increasingly using the platform to advertise supply chain opportunities for a range of services, including consultancy, surveyance, engineering and design, logistics, fabrication, and the provision of equipment, such as cables. The portal also connects suppliers directly with the project procurement teams managing these contracts.