Simulating offshore wind supply chain from port to installation
We partnered with Haskoning and Scottish Enterprise to carry out a pioneering simulation project to map the offshore wind supply chain from port operations to on-site installation. The goal was to provide wind developers, ports, and investors with clear, actionable insights to make informed planning decisions and unlock Scotland’s offshore wind potential.
Project Team
ASCO in partnership with Haskoning and Scottish Enterprise
Type
Strategic simulation/supply-chain modelling
Location
Scotland
Duration
Jan - May 2025
At a glance
- Built a decade-long simulation model of Scotland’s offshore wind logistics to expose real operational limits and future bottlenecks.
- Showed ports can share the load more effectively, reducing reliance on a single hub and guiding smarter investment.
- Gave developers, ports, and investors a clear, evidence-based framework to plan timelines, infrastructure, and risk.
Approach
We combined our logistics expertise and relationships with developers and ports with Haskoning's advanced simulation capabilities. Together, we built a model capable of tracking millions of vessel movements, construction events, and logistics activities across four offshore wind projects over a simulated 10-year period from 2028 to 2038.
The model allowed us to stress-test multiple port strategies under realistic operational constraints. We consulted with developers and ports to integrate real-world data and sector expertise to ensure the simulation accurately reflected practical limitations, such as port infrastructure, wet storage availability, and integration berth capacity. This approach enabled us to identify potential bottlenecks, assess resilience, and explore logistics strategies well in advance of physical construction.
Impact
- Port strategy optimisation: The simulation revealed multiple ports could be utilised more effectively than previously thought, reducing reliance on a single “Super Port” and lowering bottleneck risk.
- Bottlenecks identified: Wet storage limitations for floating turbine units and integration berth constraints were flagged, guiding strategic investment decisions.
- Informed decision-making: Developers, ports, and investors now have a robust, evidence-based framework to evaluate logistics and construction timelines under real-world conditions.
- Collaboration enabled: The insights encourage coordinated planning across the Scottish offshore wind sector, helping to avoid delays and inefficiencies.
- Long-term resilience: Stress-testing multiple scenarios allows stakeholders to plan for unpredictable variables such as weather or supply-chain disruption, increasing confidence in project delivery and reducing risk.