Able UK has welcomed government support for its Able Marine Energy Park (AMEP) facility on the Humber that was announced during the budget today.
The Lincolnshire development secured funding via the government’s Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment scheme, which will be pivotal in getting the £500m hub port off the ground.
The site will feature 1348 metres of deepwater quays, 217-hectares of laydown area and will be used for the manufacture storage and laydown of large offshore wind components.
Able UK has an MoU with Korean steel producer SeAH to build a XXL monopile facility at the port, which secured development consent in 2014.
“This has been a long, challenging and expensive journey and has not been for the faint-hearted – make no mistake, without the level of support that we have received from Government, the project would not have proceeded,” said Able Group chief executive Peter Stephenson.
“The government has set clear unambiguous policies that provide the offshore wind sector with far greater certainty and market visibility. At the same time the sector itself has responded with remarkable innovations and cost reductions which now see it successfully competing with other energy sources.”
Stephenson said the opportunities created by the port will be further buoyed by the Humber having secured freeport zone status today.
Greater Lincolnshire LEP chair Pat Doody said AMEP will be a big boost to the regional economy.
“Locally the funding will enable up to 3,000 jobs and facilitate significant international inward investment in the area,” he said.
“The Greater Lincolnshire LEP is committed to working with Able, and North Lincolnshire Council to facilitate investment from offshore wind companies, which will secure more jobs for local people, and significant opportunities for local businesses large and small to be further involved in the supply chain for the expanding sector.”