Comments from a representative of one of Europe’s largest offshore wind foundation manufacturers on the potential for investing at the planned Able Marine Energy Park on the South Bank of the Humber have been described as ‘very significant—and clear evidence of the Marine Energy Park’s potential to become a word-class centre for the renewable energy industries.’
That was the response from ABLE’s Group Development Director Neil Etherington to comments from a senior business executive with Strabag Offshore Wind at an event organised by Team Humber Marine Alliance to brief companies on the potential supply chain opportunities from AMEP—a development covering almost 800 acres on the South Bank of the Humber, providing state-of-the-art quayside facilities purpose-built for the manufacture, assembly and installation of offshore renewable technologies on the largest site available for port-related developments in the UK.
A decision on the planning application for AMEP will be announced by the Secretary of State Patrick McLoughlin in the next few weeks and Mr Etherington says the strong support from Strabag will not only unlock the UK’s largest Enterprise Zone but underlines the criticality of the Able development to the economic future of the whole Humberside area.
Speaking at the ‘Offshore Wind Connections’ event held in Brigg, Robert Foyle, Business Development Executive for UK & Ireland of Strabag Offshore Wind, said the company had been working with ABLE for some time regarding their requirements and, in the event of planning approval from the Secretary of State, and the necessary pipeline of UK projects in the North Sea, they would be seeking further discussions to finalise a Lease Agreement at AMEP.
Mr Foyle said the development could provide the centre for a supply chain cluster they would require and was especially well placed given it was so close to major wind energy projects. Strabag would be constructing large concrete gravity-based foundations – particularly suited for the deeper waters of emerging offshore wind farms – and would create around four hundred new jobs locally.
His words were echoed by Mark O’Reilly, director with the Team Humber Marine Alliance who described it as ‘an absolutely new ports complex with potential opportunities for manufacturers and companies right through the supply chain, from ports and marine to offshore—potentially it will attract not only larger offshore companies but smaller companies as well.’
Commented Neil Etherington “It is tremendous boost at this crucial stage in our development plans for AMEP to have a company as large and significant as Strabag make clear their wish to get involved—and the fact that today’s event has been organised by the THMA also underlines just how important it is for the region as a whole that our plans to gain Government approval.
“We know, and have been very grateful for the fact, that we have the overwhelming support of the community, local MPs and local authorities, as well as bodies such as the THMA and the Local Enterprise Partnership, who all recognise the potential for AMEP to not only generate 4,000 direct jobs but also provide the critical mass which will see the development of a new and much needed offshore wind industrial cluster on the Humber.”
[mappress]
Press release, May 8, 2013; Image: amep