Ports hope for wind farm bonanza

The decision to build the multi-billion pound development at Dogger Bank nearly 80 miles off the Yorkshire coast is aimed at generating up to 10 per cent of the nation's electricity.

The massive wind farm, which is expected to include about 2,600 giant turbines each up to 400ft tall, will cover more than 3,300 sq miles – equivalent to the size of North Yorkshire, England's largest county.

Ambitious plans are now being drawn up by Scarborough Borough Council to bring thousands of jobs to its coastal towns by playing a significant role in supporting the industry.

The council's portfolio holder for harbours, land and assets, Coun Peter Popple, claimed the arrival of the Dogger Bank scheme could have the same impact the oil industry had on Aberdeen and nearby Scottish ports.

"It is a massive opportunity and it is one that we want to grasp with both hands," he said. "We are extremely hopeful that the Yorkshire region, and the Scarborough borough in particular, will benefit greatly from the Dogger Bank wind farm scheme.

"It is still in the early stages, but we are keen to look into any benefits which can be secured from the outset."

A report is to go before Scarborough Borough Council's Cabinet on Tuesday next week which is calling for initial investigations to be made to provide operation and maintenance support to the wind farm industry.

Council officers have identified Whitby as a key strategic location for the Dogger Bank development, although Scarborough is also expected to reap significant economic benefits.

A separate wind farm scheme at Hornsea is also due to provide a host of opportunities for ports further down the coast, including Hull.

The Dogger Bank and Hornsea schemes are part of a 100bn strategy announced in January to harvest green energy and create up to 70,000 jobs.

A total of nine zones are to be developed in UK waters by 2020 as part of the Crown Estate's programme to generate 32GW, enough to meet a quarter of the country's electricity needs.

Construction work on the Dogger Bank scheme is expected to start in 2015 once approval has been obtained from the Infrastructure Planning Commission, which was established by the Government to oversee some of the nation's biggest building projects including power stations and airports.

Thousands of jobs will be created during the five-year construction programme, while thousands of additional workers will be needed to oversee its long-term operation and maintenance.

The Dogger Bank wind farm is being developed by Forewind, a consortium of four companies including Scottish and Southern Energy and RWE npower renewables. Two of Norway's largest companies, Statkraft and Statoil, are also involved.

Forewind's head of engineering and supply chain, Mark Legerton, confirmed talks were under way with the region's companies, local authorities and the regional development agency, Yorkshire Forward.

"There will undoubtedly be jobs for generations as a result of this project," he said. "The Dogger Bank wind farm will not only provide a major source of renewable energy, it also give a host of opportunities for the local economy."