Centrica to open £3m ‘world class’ wind farm headquarters

The operation, which is due to be officially opened tomorrow, will house more than 100 employees, with space for a bigger workforce during peak times. For the past five years, operation and maintenance has been run out of temporary facilities in the dock.

The base will provide specialist operations and maintenance services for the wind farms, including those in the Greater Wash – an area of the North Sea off the coast of Lincolnshire and Norfolk – as well as onshore interests in Scotland.

Centrica Energy operates from its Grimsby base the 194MW Lynn and Inner Dowsing wind farm, which was completed in 2009 and is three miles off the Lincolnshire coast. It is also building the nearby 270MW Lincs wind farm, which generated first power in August and is expected to be fully operational in 2013. This is likely to be primarily operated from Grimsby docks too, resulting in the expansion of the Centrica base there.

Centrica Energy has also received Government consent for another project in the Wash, Race Bank, with a capacity of up to 580MW. It is expected to make a final investment decision early in 2013.

Mick Turner, head of operation and maintenance at Centrica Renewables, which is part of Centrica Energy, told the Yorkshire Post: “It’s a large building with some fairly state-of-the-art technology in it to control all of the wind farms. We’ve got Siemens there working with us, we’ve got Centrica staff working there, we’ve got vessels, we are all consolidating into the new Grimsby facility.”

Mr Turner said there was no reason to set up the new facility anywhere other than Grimsby. He said it takes an hour and a half to get to the Lynn and Inner Dowsing wind farm by vessel, adding: “But it has great road links, an airport nearby, the port itself is a well managed port because people have access to skills and trade that we need.”

Centrica Energy partners with other organisations in the sector, such as Siemens, to develop service and maintenance packages for its operational offshore wind farm sites and to install the 3.6MW wind turbines, substations and associated infrastructure. Centrica Energy is part of FTSE 100 utilities firm Centrica, which operates predominately in the UK and North America and is the owner of the British Gas brand.

Mr Turner added: “We set out to invest in and build a world-class facility in Grimsby with the support of local companies, local people and local authorities. We’re proud of what we’ve achieved – and I hope Grimsby is proud too. If we decide to proceed with our next wind farm project, Race Bank, it’s possible we could operate it from Grimsby docks too. We’re continuing to discuss the options with lots of local organisations and I’m confident that Grimsby is serious about playing a leading role in the future development of offshore wind energy.”

Mr Turner said that Centrica Renewables is looking at biomass but is primarily focusing on wind turbines.

Centrica reported a 15 per cent rise in adjusted operating profits to £1.45bn for the six months to June 30, 2012. Revenue was £12bn, up four per cent on the previous year.