Able UK, which last year proposed to develop a major logistics centre and business park at its Humber Port facility north of Immingham, has now unveiled its £400m vision for the creation of what would be the UK’s leading marine energy park.
Covering an area of 1,987 acres and with river frontage of over two-and-a-half miles, Able’s Humber Port is the largest site available for such a development in the UK.
Peter Stephenson, Able UK founder and executive chairman, said that the Humber Port offers an opportunity, unique in Europe, to provide all the facilities required for the manufacture, commissioning and installation base for offshore wind turbines because of its proximity to the wind farms that will developed in the North Sea.
’Our plans envisage new quays 1,630m long, specifically tailored to the needs of the wind turbine offshore companies with whom we have been in detailed discussion in drawing up our proposals,’ he said.
’The potential demand is huge – for instance, the three offshore wind areas of Dogger, Bank, Hornsea and Norfolk Bank will require around 5,000 turbines to deliver their full capacity. If these are to be delivered by 2020, and shipping starts in 2015, it will require 19 to be shipped each and every week. What’s more, comparisons demonstrate that the costs of delivering from Able’s Humber Port will be significantly lower than other parts of the UK and Europe.’
The proposals have already attracted strong interest from major companies involved in the renewable energy sector, including Mainstream Renewable Power, a developer of offshore wind farms. It will now be considered by the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) setup to decide on nationally significant projects.
Poll: Should the UK’s railways be renationalised?
I think that a network inclusive of the vehicles on it would make sense. However it remains to be seen if there is any plan for it to be for the...