Lying on the Cromarty Firth, 25 miles from Inverness and 15 miles from the county town of Dingwall, Invergordon and its environs is home to two very important employers - the Port of Cromarty Firth and Global Energy group. These two companies are vital to both the local community and the regional economy. Their plans are keenly supported by National Government and local authority agencies, as well as a variety of regulatory bodies.
Global Energy own and operate the world-class Energy Park and facility at Nigg and has strategic bases in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness. Regional development agency, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), has recently approved investment of up to £8.3m in Scottish Government funding for an £18.9m project to develop the East Quay at the Port of Nigg facility.
The project will help the Highlands and Islands economy benefit more from the growth in renewable energy development, as well as meeting the needs of existing clients.
The Port of Cromarty Firth has recently launched a multi-partner plan to establish a green hydrogen hub in the Highlands that will see Scotland lead the world in hydrogen technology. A feasibility study into one of its projects to provide distilleries in the region with hydrogen is already underway.
It is being privately funded by partners including ScottishPower, drinks giants Glenmorangie, Whyte and Mackay and Diageo. The project is being led by Pale Blue Dot Energy.