The Yorkshire and Humber region offers a significant market opportunity for business targeting the wind energy market with the Humber estuary being centrally located to the three largest Round 3 offshore wind development zones - Dogger Bank, Hornsea and Norfolk. The region is home to over 20 wind energy projects, including two of the UK's largest offshore wind farms, currently under development – the Humber Gateway and Westernmost Rough.
The region is also home to the largest ports complex in the UK and is a gateway for access into Europe. The South Humber Bank has an 880 hectare Greenfield site adjacent to deep water, providing potential for a wind cluster to form. The port of Grimsby is a leading player in the provision of Operations & Maintenance bases for wind farms and currently provides facilities for the operations activity of Siemens and Centrica. Immingham port handles large assemblies from Sheffield and it has a number of development sites suitable for the pre-assembly, manufacture and construction of wind turbines. Hull, located on the North bank of the Humber, has excellent road and rail links and offers a number of large development sites for both manufacturing and pre-assembly.
The video below: Eddie O'Connor, founder and Chief Executive of Mainstream Renewable Power (MRP) speaking at The Crown Estate Offshore Wind Event on 26th February 2010. MRP form part of the SMart Wind consortium alongside Siemens Project Ventures (SPV) who were awarded a contract to develop 4GW of wind farms by 2020 as part of The Crown Estates Round 3 offshore wind farm programme.
Wind power is being harnessed in the region and there is already an established supply chain in industries such as advanced engineering and manufacturing relating to wind supply technology. Major companies such as Corus with an integrated steel plant providing plates for foundations and towers, and Sheffield Forgemasters providing bespoke manufacture of up to 350 tonne castings, are examples of regional capability, and typify the ability to manufacture large components.
The marine services sector is also very strong in the region - with a long tradition of deep sea fishing and gas and oil support services stretching for 30 years.
Yorkshire and Humber has one of the largest concentrations of universities in Europe with 8 world-class universities active in research. The University of Hull is internationally renowned for its expertise in environmental and marine research, the University of Sheffield is has a world class reputation in engineering and the University of Leeds’ Institute of Earth, Energy and Environment has strengths in a range of environmental engineering
The region has a highly skilled and flexible labour force with strengths in marine engineering and experience working in an offshore environment, complemented by a number of regional training providers including:
- HETA (Humber Engineering Training Association) – deliver courses in high grade engineering skills
- HOTA (Humber Offshore Training Association) – helicopter and tank facilities, working at height and health and safety training
- CATCH (Centre for Assessment of Technical Competency) provides Europe's only full scale chemical training plant
- North Lindsay College – work with regional companies to deliver bespoke training needs
To help your business achieve its full potential within the wind energy industry, Yorkshire and Humber offers:
- significant market opportunity as the Humber estuary is central to the three largest Round 3 offshore wind development zones
- largest ports complex in the UK - Hull, Immingham, Grimsby & Goole – with established marine infrastructure alongside a deep water estuary
- large areas of shore side land available suitable for turbine manufacture
- the largest (880 hectare) undeveloped strategic deep water estuary site in the UK
- established infrastructure to supply the National Grid and accessible connection points for new renewable energy developments
- excellent logistics network with expertise in the transportation of wind turbine components
- extensive transport infrastructure with key national rail routes and motorways running through the region and three international airports
- over 50% of the UK’s manufacturing base is less than two hours drive away
- highly skilled and flexible workforce with strengths in marine engineering and experience working in an offshore environment in the North Sea
- strong regional training providers with capacity and enthusiasm to develop renewable energy skills
- internationally renowned expertise in high precision engineering, advanced materials and high quality manufacturing
- an excellent science and technology based incubation infrastructure
- cutting-edge innovation in alternative energy, bio fuels, wind power, tidal and fuel cells
The video below: Roger Bright CB, Chief Executive of The Crown Estate who manage The Crown property portfolio, which includes the offshore sea bed off the coast of Hornsea.