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The Port of Blyth in the United Kingdom is pushing to cement its dominance as a hub for North Sea offshore wind operations after unveiling plans to invest $135 million to expand key infrastructure for the next era of clean energy growth.
Strategically located on the North East coast of England, a region that has emerged as the epicenter of the fast growing offshore wind industry, the Port of Blyth has over the past two decades and a half established itself as a leading hub for offshore wind operations by providing infrastructures and services to support the industry's growth.
The port handles cargo across four terminals based around the River Blyth, and has been supporting offshore wind developments across the full project lifecycle, from manufacturing and staging to installation and long-term operations and maintenance. This emanates from the fact that its energy cluster is home to more than 50 businesses operating across the offshore wind and wider renewable energy sector.
As the Crown Estate continues on its leasing rounds for North Sea projects, the Port of Blyth has embarked on the Battleship Wharf expansion scheme, a massive project designed to expand its facilities thus enabling it to handle larger offshore energy projects and emerging low-carbon technologies. Part of the works will include reclaiming approximately three hectares of land and up to 260 meters of quay extensions and rock revetments linking to the new deep-water berth.
The port reckons that the channel and berth deepening will allow larger vessels to access the port, supported by additional heavy-duty handling equipment to accommodate next-generation offshore components. Collectively, the enhancements are expected to attract clean energy manufacturers, generate hundreds of new jobs, and deliver significant economic benefits to the North East through increased investment and a more resilient clean energy supply chain.
"This is a landmark moment for the port and for the wider region. The Battleship Wharf expansion will ensure we have the infrastructure, capacity and capability to support the next generation of offshore wind and clean energy projects," said Martin Lawlor OBE, Port of Blyth Chief Executive. He added that with strong backing from its regional partners, the port is taking a significant step forward in driving sustainable growth, creating jobs, and reinforcing Blyth's position at the heart of the UK's energy transition.
Plans for the massive investment by Blyth comes only weeks after the Crown Estate announced it will be launching a new leasing round for offshore wind projects next year that will secure around 6GW of new capacity in the North Sea. The leasing round, predominantly in the North East and in water depths suitable for fixed-bottom wind, could deliver capacity equal to the output of about 460 turbines, enough to power about a quarter of homes in England and Wales. The projects are expected to create up to 10,000 direct jobs and generate over $16.2 billion in economic activity.
In December last year, the Crown Estate supported 16 projects with $17.6 million through its Supply Chain Accelerator program. The Port of Blyth was among the beneficiaries after being awarded $370,000 to increase capacity and improve operational efficiency and accessibility to further support the expansion of offshore renewables.
Fuente: Maritime Executive
