Peel Ports Great Yarmouth has been selected as the port for construction and installation activities for ScottishPower Renewables’ £2.5 billion East Anglia ONE offshore windfarm.
Up to £5 million will be co-invested, allowing the facility to be ready to support activities for the 102 turbine windfarm in 2018/19.
The announcement comes just over two months after Peel Ports announced the purchase of Great Yarmouth Port Company Limited (GYPC).
The co-investment will support the construction of primary infrastructure and groundworks. This includes the delivery of yard storage and marshalling, as well as the installation of heavy lift quay facilities.
Components will be preassembled quayside and then loaded onto installation vessels which will depart from Great Yarmouth to the windfarm site, 30 miles offshore.
ScottishPower Renewables has announced that East Anglia ONE will provide in the region of 3,000 jobs, some of which will be created as part of the works at Great Yarmouth.
The port has extensive experience in handling vessels supporting offshore wind power generation projects. It has successfully provided installation and construction support for the Sherringham Shoal, Lincs and Scroby Sands windfarms.
Richard Goffin, Port Director, Peel Ports Great Yarmouth, believes the partnership will consolidate Great Yarmouth’s position as a leading offshore energy port facility in the UK.
Mr Goffin said: “This new partnership with ScottishPower Renewables will really strengthen our long term plans to grow and diversify our offering in Great Yarmouth within the energy sector.
“Following the acquisition, we have been able to highlight the benefits that Great Yarmouth can offer to customers and with the support of a wider Group, provide and attract inward investment which will enhance and transform our operations and facilities.
“We are looking forward to working with ScottishPower Renewables and helping them deliver valuable jobs and economic benefits to the region, as part of the East Anglia ONE offshore windfarm.”
When complete, East Anglia ONE will have a life span of 30 plus years and is planned to provide enough renewable energy to meet the annual electricity demands of the equivalent of 500,000 homes by 2020.
Construction is planned to commence in 2017 with the first turbines installed by 2019.
Jonathan Cole, Managing Director of Offshore Wind at ScottishPower Renewables, said: “East Anglia ONE is progressing quickly. As our chosen port for construction and installation, Great Yarmouth will allow us to deliver the project to the high standards and specifications required.
“We are committed to delivering local investment, local job creation and training opportunities as part of this project, so its pleasing that this work has gone in favour of Great Yarmouth".