Peel Ports Clydeport welcomes record wind turbines

Peel Ports Clydeport has welcomed its largest ever turbines to a key facility for the renewable energy sector following a recent £3 million ($4 million) investment in infrastructure.

King George V Dock in Glasgow handled six wind turbines and their 80.5 metre-long blades, the biggest ever at the site owned by the UK’s second largest port operator.

The port group’s recent development of a new egress road and supporting terminal infrastructure made the arrival of the components possible and improved the movement of such project cargo through the port.

The BBC Raise vessel brought the turbines from China last month, and workers have since transported them to a major wind farm project near Ayrshire.

Jim McSporran, port director at Peel Ports Clydeport, said: “Welcoming the largest wind turbines we’ve ever handled at King George V Dock marks a major milestone for Peel Ports Clydeport and underlines our growing role in Scotland’s renewable energy journey.

“The recent £3 million ($4 million) investment in our new egress road and supporting terminal infrastructure has significantly enhanced our capability to support complex and oversized project cargo like this.

“This is a clear demonstration of how we’re futureproofing our operations to meet the evolving needs of the energy sector and help deliver on national net-zero ambitions.”

The port group completed the new road in spring this year, and it now provides a more efficient route for oversized cargo to Scotland’s major road network. Limited manoeuvring space for large pieces of cargo previously restricted operational capability.

The facility processed over a thousand components in 2024, a record year that the investment now builds upon. The site will also process more than 100 turbines and 800 wind turbine components over the next 12 months.

King George V Dock’s deep-sea facility is equipped to accommodate the handling of large-scale wind turbine components, allowing for efficient movement of vital equipment to and from wind farm sites.

The facility has processed components for over 1,200 wind turbines, representing more than 35 per cent of total capacity installed in Scotland since 2005 – and more than any other port across the country.

The facility, located on the banks of the River Clyde, has a strong track record in transporting components used for onshore wind projects.

Last month, Peel Ports Group strengthened its commitment to the UK aluminium sector by becoming the first UK port operator to join the Aluminium Federation (ALFED).