UK port bid for renewables market

Plans to attract major wind turbine manufacturers to the project are underway with a partnership between Associated British Ports (ABP), Hull City Council, East Riding of Yorkshire Council and the University of Hull.

Aware that the economic benefit from some previous schemes for major wind turbines off UK waters has already gone abroad to sites in Europe, Hull is keen to help turn the tide of renewable investment back to the UK.

To this end, ABP is already in advanced negotiations with a number of major turbine manufacturers currently looking for a location for their manufacturing base. ABP’s site at Alexandra Dock, part of the Port of Hull, is “ideally suited” to becoming a wind turbine manufacturing facility says the port operator, since three of the largest offshore zones, Dogger Bank, Hornsea and Norfolk, can be reached within 12 hours sailing time from Hull.

The project (called Green Port Hull) will also make use of the already-consented Quay 2005 site immediately adjacent to the docks, which provides direct access to the adjacent deep water channel. Environmental compensation has already been provided for the Quay 2005 site, with the creation of new areas of inter-tidal habitat at Chowder Ness.

By 2020 the UK Government targets require 15% of energy production to be from renewable sources and to meet this target turbine operators will need to be on site manufacturing the turbines by 2014. In January 2010, Round 3 offshore wind development zones were announced off the UK coast, each with thousands of wind turbines, with three of the largest sites within 12 hours of Hull.

The port and city have reason to think they will be successful with the Green Port Hull proposition, and if so, the new operation could generate up to 10,000 new jobs for the region in both skilled and unskilled roles as well as countless supply chain opportunities for local small businesses.