Port of Blyth and its partner Advance Northumberland are to showcase a number of important developments coming to fruition in early 2021 at the upcoming Global Offshore Wind 2020 conference.
Both businesses have major development projects due for completion over the coming months that will provide the renewables sector with significant and timely quayside developments opportunities as offshore wind developments in the North Sea ramp up.
Port of Blyth is close to completing a £3m redevelopment project at its Bates Terminal which includes the reconstruction and strengthening of one of the terminal’s quays. In response to continued interest in the Port’s offshore energy support base model, a kilometre of new roadway has also been installed to improve access and considerable earthworks to level a 4HA area of the terminal set aside for development have been completed.
Bates Terminal is also home to the Port’s £1m wind turbine training facility, a unique full size and open access turbine that offers a wide range of training opportunities to the sector.
Meanwhile, elsewhere on the estuary Advance Northumberland’s landmark development of the £32m Northumberland Energy Park which includes the creation of a new deep-water dock and site enablement to unlock nearly 200HA of quayside linked development site for the offshore wind sector with phase 1 available from Spring 2021.
Martin Lawlor, Chief Executive of Port of Blyth said:
“These major developments represent the next stage of growth for the offshore energy and renewables sector in Blyth. They offer the industry’s manufacturers and operators a huge opportunity to make the most of large scale, quayside located development opportunities close to both the huge supply chain here and the adjacent Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, in a region known for its engineering innovation.”
Ken Dunbar, Managing Director of Advance Northumberland added
“The significant investment being made into Blyth Estuary provides a clear statement of intent to the offshore wind market that we have the marine infrastructure alongside nearly 200HA development sites, world class R&D assets and an established supply chain cluster to create a large scale integrated manufacturing portside hub for the delivery of offshore wind projects.”
Regarded as one of the UK’s leading offshore energy support bases, Port of Blyth is home to some of the world’s largest offshore and renewable energy firms and a licenced decommissioning facility serving the sector.
Working on behalf of Northumberland County Council, Advance Northumberland is a unique economic regeneration company, with a bold remit to improve prosperity, quality of life and increase business activity throughout the communities of Northumberland. Advance Northumberland is a “place shaping” one stop shop focused almost exclusively on regenerating Northumberland.
