One of the UK’s leading offshore energy ports has taken its next significant step in its £12m decarbonisation strategy, thanks to support from Lloyds Bank.
Port of Blyth, based in Northumberland, has added a new electric crane to its fleet of equipment to increase its capacity capabilities and reduce emissions. The Konecranes Gottwald ESP.6 Mobile Harbour Crane has a 125-tonne lift capacity, eliminates carbon emissions, and keeps noise to a minimum.
Energy from braking and lowering movements can also be re-used by other crane functions or fed back to the harbour mains.
The new crane is part of the port’s strategy to become as energy efficient as possible by decarbonising all equipment including forklift trucks and cranes.
The businesses’ low-carbon strategy began in 2019, after initially receiving £7.5m of funding from Lloyds Bank. This was used to construct new terminal infrastructure and additional warehousing while creating numerous employment opportunities.
To continue its plans for growth, Port of Blyth secured a further £2m of funding from Lloyds Bank this year, whilst a £2.4m facility was secured from Lloyds Asset Finance, enabling the firm to purchase the new electric crane.
Port of Blyth is now committed to introducing a host of additional clean energy measures including solar power PV panels across the site. It will also explore the use of alternative marine fuels and mine water heating to reduce its carbon footprint.
Soon Port of Blyth will officially launch it’s ‘Clean Energy’ terminal following a major low carbon redevelopment scheme that has delivered a heavy load out quay, new roads and hardstanding, a heavy-lift electric crane and warehouse upgrades. Developed to support the clean energy sector, Bates Clean Energy Terminal offers enhanced facilities and the opportunity for low carbon focused investment and innovation.
Oran Robson, finance director of Port of Blyth, said:
“This latest investment marks our next step towards a greener future.
“By introducing more energy-efficient ways of working, we’re able to continually diversify our business and create new employment opportunities across the region.
“Thanks to ongoing support from Lloyds Bank, we’ve been able to make the changes necessary to continue attracting new investment and remain resilient. We look forward to providing more exciting opportunities for decades to come for both existing and future clients and do our bit on the road to Net Zero.”
Hannah Douglass, relationship director at Lloyds Bank, said:
“The North East’s green economy already supports an estimated 14 per cent of all UK jobs in the sector and is a huge driver for future innovation.
“Businesses like Port of Blyth are seeing the benefits first-hand of introducing sustainable measures. Not only can it help a business to capitalise on new growth opportunities, but it is also helping the region and wider economy reduce its impact on the planet.
“We’ve worked with Port of Blyth for more than a hundred years. Its rapid expansion and efforts to help reduce the North East’s carbon footprint is brilliant and shows the importance of sustainability.
“We’ll continue investing in firms like this and provide the support needed for them to capitalise on the opportunities being created through greener ways of working.”
