Further expansion at one of East Anglia's biggest ports could be on the cards to accommodate the region's fast-growing offshore wind sector.
The plans for Peel Ports Great Yarmouth – which has already been scoped as a possible partner for a major new offshore wind farm – would increase its profile in trade and training, with more heavy berth and quay facilities and a training and skills centre.
The earmarked site, in the south west corner of the outer harbour, would add 100,000 sq m of land to the port and 350m of extra berth space, as well as housing new office space and car parking.
It will be close to the pre-assembly site where wind turbines for the Galloper wind farm off the Suffolk coast are being built by Siemens Gamesa with Great Yarmouth-based 3sun Group, and where the 102 7MW Siemens turbines for East Anglia One will be pieced together.
In July it was revealed that Vattenfall, the company behind the Norfolk Vanguard and Boreas offshore wind farms, was considering partnering with Peel Ports on its projects – a move which could create more than 100 jobs.
Richard Goffin, director of Peel Ports Great Yarmouth, revealed the plans to an audience of 200 industry delegates at an offshore wind event at OrbisEnergy, Lowestoft.
It was organised by the East of England Energy Group (EEEGR) and included updates on multi-million pound energy projects from industry giants Innogy, ScottishPower Renewables, Vattenfall and Statoil.
Waveney MP Peter Aldous praised the industry for dramatically driving down costs.
'But the offshore wind industry cannot rest on its laurels or other low-carbon technologies will overtake it,' he said.
An EEEGR initiative is investigating how to cut costs further by looking at how offshore services can be shared with the oil and gas sector, including supply vessels and helicopters, as they are in Dutch waters.
There could also be collaborations in construction, installation and maintenance between the industries.
Rob Hastings, who is leading the SNS Rejuvenation Special Interest Group at the centre of the project, said: 'If we can make cost reduction from 10-20% from both industries, we have created a massive win.'
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