Wind farm project signals lift-off for green revolution

The jack-up barge berthed at Albert Dock’s riverside terminal will be used to carry components for the foundations of a £725m offshore wind farm being developed in the Greater Wash area, and is the first tangible evidence of the industry establishing itself on the estuary.

The operation of the barge by Lincs Wind Farm Ltd follows council approval a fortnight ago for the flagship £210m Green Port Hull development, a partnership between Associated British Ports and Europe’s largest engineering firm Siemens, which is expected to place the Humber at the heart of the UK’s renewable energy industry and transform the economic fortunes of the area.

Matt Jukes, ABP port director for Hull and Goole, said: “We’re delighted that Lincs Wind Farm Ltd has chosen the Port of Hull for this important project.

“This project is further evidence of the Port of Hull’s excellent location by providing both sheltered deep-water berths and a suitable landbank for the offshore wind energy industry. It is a major step forward in Hull’s ambition to establish itself as the premier offshore wind logistics hub in the UK.”

Steven Bayes, Hull Council portfolio holder for economic regeneration and employment, said the use of Albert and William Wright Docks as a logistics base by Lincs Wind Farm Ltd was hopefully a “sign of things to come”.

He said: “Hull’s Green Port offer is creating confidence in the Port of Hull as a place to do business. For this type of operation to come to Hull, using its existing marine engineering facilities, demonstrates the flexibility of established port facilities and what the city has to offer for similar operations needed for the renewables industry.

“It could be the start of a major new industry on the Humber and a sign of things to come.”

Should all green power projects planned for the Humber come to fruition it would see more than £1bn of investment in the area.

Although Green Port Hull still needs final approval from Ministers, construction could begin early next year with the factory being operational in 2014.

As well as creating 300 construction jobs, the plant, which will assemble the turbines and make the component which converts their rotation into electricity, will employ 700 engineering workers and potentially support thousands of others in associated industries.