South Korean company SeAH Steel has agreed to site a monopile factory at Able UK’s planned Able Marine Energy Park (AMEP) on the south bank of the Humber.
SeAH and Able UK have signed a memorandum of understanding for the facility, which will have an initial annual production capacity of 162,000 tonnes rising to 320,000 tonnes.
The development will create around 400 new jobs, according to SeAH.
Able UK executive chairman Peter Stephenson said the agreement shows the UK offshore wind sector is “on the cusp of something very special” in terms of delivering more domestic content.
“We have a clear and unambiguous policy from Whitehall through the Sector Deal in the Industrial Strategy and the increasingly demanding targets for both power generation and the extent of UK content,” he said.
Stephenson said SeAH is one of several manufacturers looking to set up shop at AMEP and said Able UK is “at similar stages of negotiation” with other companies.
He said SeAH has embraced Able UK’s vision of creating a “world-scale” industrial offshore wind cluster on the Humber by choosing to locate there.
“To deliver 60 percent UK content we must act now to capitalise on this singular, but time-limited opportunity. AMEP can and will play a vital role in this process.”
The port will provide 1,279 metres of heavy-duty deep-water quays and a 353-acre expanse of adjacent land.
Stephenson said the first quays at AMEP will be available from late 2022 “subject to our [Able UK] receiving the necessary support.”
“The UK has the strongest market and we intend to play an important role in the ongoing development of the offshore wind sector,” SeAH chief executive Hyungkun Nam said.
“We recognise the considerable opportunity to be the first significant UK-based monopile supplier. Partnering with AMEP and with it Able, a company with such a credible track record, as the sole partner with whom we wish to progress matters.”
Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, Councillor Rob Waltham said the factory plans show that AMEP can become a major economic force nationally.
“The Government has signalled its intention to support the North and is demonstrating a commitment to ensure sustainability, security and value for money in the energy markets for homes and industry,” he said.
Able UK has been progressing plans for the £475m AMEP site since securing planning consent for the development in 2014.
“We have worked with Able UK for a number of years to support their development plans,” said Humber Local Enterprise Partnership chair Steve Parnaby.
“This announcement is a key milestone in that development and will support further progress in our ambition for the Humber to truly become the UK’s energy estuary.”