The Port of Blyth has announced the launch of a clean energy terminal as it looks to capitalise on the North East’s growing hold on the renewable energy market.
The Bates Clean Energy Terminal offers enhanced facilities for companies in the renewables and offshore energy sectors and the opportunity for low carbon focused investment and innovation.
With support from the North East LEP, the development aims to strengthen the Port’s reputation as one of the 海角视频’s leading offshore energy support bases. It has created an enlarged 17-hectare terminal with two berths, upgraded heavy lift quays, and up to eight hectares of quayside development land. Further expansion of the area is likely in the future.
A report last year claimed that the North East’s offshore wind supply chain could create 4,500 new jobs in the next five years to support the growing renewables industry.
The Port of Blyth has been building up a hub of companies in the fast-growing sector for a number of years, while the nearby Port of Tyne last year launched its own clean energy park after securing the maintenance base for the world’s largest offshore wind farm, at Dogger Bank in the North Sea.
Port of Blyth chief executive Martin Lawlor said: “The launch of the Bates Clean Energy Terminal represents another important milestones in the port’s development as a major offshore energy base and in our commitment to the national decarbonisation strategy.
“With the support of national and regional partners, we are creating a unique opportunity for low carbon focused inward investment and are confident that this initiative will help to further expand the significant offshore energy supply chain already located around the Blyth Estuary.”
The Port of Blyth has also committed to a decarbonisation strategy for its site involving electrification of plant and low carbon energy initiatives for new and existing buildings.
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The port is adjacent to the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult (OREC) and the planned Britishvolt gigafactory nearby also hopes to take advantage of the push towards more environmentally-friendly transport.
Last week the Ports of Blyth, Tyne and Sunderland were included in a North East bid for freeport status which was said could boost the region’s economy by £3.4bn and create more than 60,000 new jobs.