Associated British Ports, RWE and Clarksons Port Services have signed an agreement to support the Vanguard West and East offshore wind farms from the Port of Lowestoft.
ABP said the deal confirms the Lowestoft Eastern Energy Facility as the construction support base for the projects in the Southern North Sea and strengthens the port’s role as an offshore energy hub for East Anglia.
RWE added that Lowestoft has been selected for the Vanguard construction programme, securing up to three Service Operation Vessels and three Crew Transfer Vessels over multiple years.
The Lowestoft Eastern Energy Facility was opened in January 2025 and includes deep-water berths, 350m of upgraded quayside, six CTV berths and up to eight acres of operational space.
ABP has invested £35m in the facility and is commissioning a new 2000m2 warehouse while preparing the Outer Harbour with new pontoons to support increased vessel activity.
Clarksons Port Services will lease and operate the facility on behalf of RWE.
Once complete, the Norfolk Vanguard West and Norfolk East projects will have a combined capacity of 3.1GW and generate enough electricity to power around 3 million UK homes.
“This agreement marks an important step in progressing our Vanguard West and East projects. Lowestoft offers the location and capability we need for the delivery of the construction phase, while the new warehouse in the Outer Harbour will ensure our teams are well supported as activity ramps up across the Southern North Sea, ensuring the Vanguard projects stay on track and operate to their maximum capacity once fully constructed,” said Jon Darling, RWE offshore project director, Vanguard.
“Working with ABP and Clarksons Port Services strengthens our long-term presence in the region and supports our continued investment in offshore wind to deliver clean, secure energy for the UK.”