Boss of Peel Ports Great Yarmouth outlines expansion plans 

19th November 2017

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.  Bethany Whymark, EDP, reports

Richard Goffin, port director for Peel Ports Great Yarmouth, announced plans to develop a further part of the Outer Harbour at the East of England Energy Group's (EEEGR) Offshore Wind Week 2017 event. Picture: TMS Media

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 100,000sqm 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 preassembly 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 Orbis Energy, 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, Scottish Power 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”