Lowestoft and Yarmouth at centre of a ‘renewable energy revolution’ after major windfarm deal

Galloper announce offshore construction base as Port of Lowestoft- The offshore construction base. (Image: Archant)

ScottishPower Renewables has agreed to invest millions of pounds into the port of Lowestoft to create a construction and long-term maintenance base for the East Anglia ONE windfarm, off the Suffolk coast.

Waveney MP Peter Aldous also announced that the Galloper windfarm would have its construction base in Lowestoft. But Simon Gray, chief executive of the East of England Energy Group said other areas would receive a boost too. 'Across our region we are looking at a massive potential for investment,' he said.

'Yarmouth will benefit a lot, as will Harwich. All the ports will need to be utilised, it's not just Lowestoft.'

Both projects will bring thousands of short-term jobs to the town – but, crucially, East Anglia ONE will also bring longer-term, highly skilled engineering jobs for a generation.

Jonathan Cole, managing director of offshore wind for ScottishPower Renewables, at the Offshore Wind Works conference in Lowestoft. (Image: RobHowarthPhotography00447768285551)

Mr Aldous said: 'The agricultural revolution was made here in Britain, much of it in East Anglia.

'The industrial revolution started here in East Anglia. And if we get this right, the renewable energy revolution will be British – with Lowestoft, Yarmouth and East Anglia right at its cutting edge.'

Jonathan Cole, managing director of offshore wind for ScottishPower Renewables, said East Anglia ONE is just one of a series of projects designed to create the world's biggest offshore windfarm off the east coast.

'These projects are so big, the benefit will be spread around,' he said.

'Today we are announcing something positive for Lowestoft but the plan is for other areas of East Anglia to also benefit.'

Read the full story in today's EDP and Lowestoft Journal.

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