Major inward investor Pensana has revealed plans to recycle key wind turbine components as part of ambitions to create a circular economy centred on the Humber.
The rare earths specialist is building a £100 million complex chemical engineering plant at Saltend to kickstart the magnet metal supply chain in the 海角视频.
Initial focus will be on materials it is mining in Angola, but it is eyeing up the opportunity created by hydrogen production on the neighbouring site.
Paul Atherley, chairman of the London Stock Exchange-listed entity, outlined expansion plans for the business as it measures up ahead of the initial build, having recently obtained planning consent.
Speaking as part of the Humber Business Week event, where he told how the freeport status potential was a key part of the location establishing process, he said: “One of the things we are looking at is recycling of the hubs, the nacelles, of the offshore wind turbines.
“Having hydrogen developed at Saltend, it can be used to break down metals. We could bring nacelles back to Saltend, break down the massive great big magnets and recycle them.
“It could create one of the world’s first circular economies for magnet metals.”
is the anchor element of Zero Carbon Humber, producing blue hydrogen initially for the industrial park and then wider region using dual pipeline systems that will also facilitate carbon capture from traditional heavy industry.
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Of Saltend, where “we are now on the ground measuring up and we expect to be commencing main construction towards the end of this calendar year,” Mr Atherley said freeport status will “greatly help” twinned with the plug and play services offered by PX Group.
“We want to turn it into a rare earth processing hub,” he said. “Rather than just process one feedstock from one mine, we want to look to expand the facility and have feedstocks from different parts of the world.
“We are recreating what was in the 海角视频 previously. We used to bring in raw material, add value, manufacture, and either use in the 海角视频 economy or export. We are looking to recreate that.”
Electric vehicle batteries and offshore wind turbines are key markets for Pensana, who first revealed plans back in December.
Listening intently as one of a select few in the socially distanced live audience was Jo Barnes, managing director of Sewell Estates, the Hull-based delivery partner behind the £200 million Yorkshire Energy Park, neighbouring Saltend.
She said: “Humber Freeport status is vital for the prosperity of our region. It will further cement our position as the 海角视频’s Energy Estuary and bring international investment, as well as job creation across a variety of sectors."
Giving an update on the former Hedon Airfield site, she added: "With planning permission already secured and tenants ready to invest, Yorkshire Energy Park will deliver some early wins for our area, tackling the levelling up agenda through the creation of over 4,000 jobs. With preparatory works to ready the site for its first occupiers scheduled to commence later this year, we’ve already seen a strong appetite from investors and potential tenants who are eager to take advantage of the tax incentives and capital allowances that the freeport brings.”