Vattenfall has named Peel Ports Great Yarmouth as the preferred location for its operations and maintenance base for the Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone.
The development is expected to create more than 100 green-collar jobs over the lifetime of the project, which is around 35 years.
“It should be a great economic boost for the area with around 130 long-term jobs helping to manage the Wind Zone, one of the world’s largest,” said Rob Anderson, project director of Vattenfall’s Norfolk Zone.
“All we need now is for government to play its part by providing a financial framework that gives us the certainty we need to invest so that local people can start seeing the benefits.”
Growth potential
Peel Ports fended off some stiff competition to secure the bid for the base, including from Lowestoft and Associated British Ports.
Vattenfall’s base will be constructed at the new £21.4m (€24.4 million) O&M Campus commissioned by Norfolk County Council in a project in collaboration with Great Yarmouth Borough Council and the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership.
“This decision continues to show the confidence in the role of Great Yarmouth Port as a key enabler in the green energy sector, with tremendous potential to grow,” said Richard Goffin, port director south east cluster, Peel Ports Group.
“We are proud to support the growth of the sector by providing a platform for projects such as the Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone.”
When completed, Vattenfall’s Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone will be able to power around 4.6m homes, making it one of the largest offshore wind zones in the world.
