Pioneers in offshore wind, changing the landscape of renewable energy
Northumberland is a destination that is synonymous with the offshore wind sector.
Your new direction for offshore wind
From the inception of the UK’s first offshore windfarm in Blyth, Northumberland in 2000, the county has continued to pave the way in renewable energy through technology-led innovation. Today, Northumberland has green energy at its core with the county offering a prime location with world class knowledge and expertise, high calibre facilities and premier port services.
Port of Blyth, a key regional renewables asset, is just 100NM from Dogger Bank, which will be the world largest wind farm with installed capacity of 3.6 GW, enough to power 6 million homes. The North East coast is also within a 24-hour vessel time of 80% of the UK’s wind farms, and is home to North Sea Link - a 720-kilometre subsea interconnector, linking the electricity systems of the UK and Norway.
Industry leading facilities
Northumberland is home to Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult (ORE Catapult) the UK’s leading innovation centre for offshore renewable energy which provides multiple opportunities and benefits to the companies based within the North East of England. These unique facilities and comprehensive research and engineering capabilities are bringing together industry and academia to drive innovation.
The Blyth site includes the world’s most comprehensive open access and independent test and research facilities which undertake structural testing of blades, power train testing facilities alongside a UKAS-Accredited HV and Materials Laboratory and a dynamic cable test rig amongst others. 2023 saw the opening of The Digital, Autonomous and Robotics Engineering (DARE) Centre. A new £3m state-of-the-art facility that offers a unique opportunity to test, demonstrate and commercialise innovative digital and robotic products and services for the offshore renewable energy market.
PIONEERING PARTNERSHIPS
Energy Central is a partnership between Advance Northumberland, Port of Blyth, Northumberland County Council and the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult that has established a ready-made cluster for businesses working across renewable energy, offshore wind, subsea engineering, decommissioning, and energy storage.
As a single location gateway, Energy Central has a well-developed supply chain and a highly skilled workforce with strong expertise in the engineering and manufacturing sectors. Businesses locating to Energy Central can reduce costs and maximise productivity through local collaboration.
More than £30m of government funding has been secured to provide the right conditions for economic growth within Energy Central and the Energy Central partnership offers a series of investment packages and incentives, from fully serviced land and infrastructure to complete turnkey solutions.
More About the Sector
This fully operational hub is made up of world-leading organisations, bespoke training services and high-class infrastructure making it a prime destination in Europe for businesses operating in the renewable energy, oil and gas, offshore wind, subsea and decommissioning industries.
Major projects such as JDR’s new subsea cable manufacturing facility currently in development in Cambois, RWE choosing Port of Blyth as their construction base for Sofia Wind Farm and Energy Central Learning Hub a new skills and training centre focused on clean energy and STEM subjects currently under construction in Blyth demonstrates that Northumberland is brimming with investment.
Key linked land opportunities and project office space are available in Blyth for investors operating in the renewable energy, offshore wind and subsea sector.
of NE graduates are still in the region 5 years later
30%
lower salary bills below what you'd pay in London
HOME TO
The Technology Development Centre (TDC)
£13.6m
Energy Central Learning Hub opening in 2024
1st
Offshore windfarm in the UK was built in Blyth
HOME TO
The Digital, Autonomous and Robotics Engineering (DARE) Centre
CLUSTER
Energy Central - a vibrant & dynamic supply chain
“The Port of Blyth offers us not only a strategic location and access to a strong marine supply chain but also an impressive new facility that will also ensure a legacy beyond the project.”
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