Lowestoft will feel the imminent impact of real jobs for the area from more than £4 billion being invested in the development of two offshore wind farms through its port, an industry leader said today.
Activity in the port will start “very soon” with long and short-term jobs creation for hundreds of local people, Johnathan Reynolds, business development lead at Lowestoft renewables hub OrbisEnergy said.
“This is incredible news for Lowestoft. It much more than major energy companies building world-leading wind farms off our coast – this is also about real jobs for real people in and around the community of Lowestoft.”
“This news has extra poignancy and significance to the offshore supply chain, given the challenges and uncertainties in the oil & gas sector.
“The real benefit of these developments is for the security of the UK’s power supply which will be felt in families and homes in the Lowestoft area and beyond, with skills training, jobs during the construction period of East Anglia ONE and Galloper, the rest of the East Anglia zone for years to come and then the long-term jobs for operations and maintenance of all the offshore wind farms off Lowestoft for decades to come.”
“Careers in a world-leading industry will be an aspiration for young people here, who will be watching the port in their home town being busy as the gateway to the creation of new and exciting wind farms that will provide jobs for their future.”
OrbisEnergy tenant James Fisher and Sons plc revealed yesterday that its £25m contract for the next two years providing offshore and marine services for construction of the Galloper Offshore wind farm would generate 100 new jobs, mostly in the Lowestoft area.
The company, which swelled its staff in OrbisEnergy from four people to more than 20, will maintain its dedicated project management team in OrbisEnergy with a further 20 to 30 onshore and offshore-based personnel forming part of the project’s principal contractor team with another 40 to 50 offshore technicians.
“James Fisher has rapidly expanded at OrbisEnergy and now has a substantial presence having created a number of new job opportunities, which is an encouraging sign of things to come.” Mr Reynolds said.
“East Anglia ONE has previously said that its presence at OrbisEnergy was a key influence to it securing permission to develop, and we look forward to continuing to support Scottish Power Renewables over this next exciting phase of the project. It has been wonderful to support James Fisher’s development and help celebrate this significant contract success.”
The Galloper Wind Farm is being constructed by RWE Innogy, with the offshore construction phase scheduled to commence in June 2016, with the project commencing operations in March 2018.
ScottishPower Renewables this week nnounced hundreds of long-terms jobs and thousands during construction would be created for the region with confirmation it was committing the necessary funding for the project.
On Galloper, James Fisher will be responsible for providing key elements of marine services and support to the Galloper including: construction site set-up; marine co-ordination, OWMSTM marine management system, crew transfer vessels, vessel refuelling and emergency response services. The contract also includes provision of ad-hoc support arrangements for diving services, operation of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and unexploded ordinance identification and disposal.
The Galloper wind farm will create 700 jobs during the construction phase and around 90 jobs once operational.
In November, East Anglia ONE agreed a £25m deal with Lowestoft port to be home of the project for the next 30 years. More than 500,000 homes will be powered by the 102 turbines creating 714MW.
Mr Reynolds said: “Offshore wind power is a major part of our huge potential for growth in the energy sector. We have more offshore wind generation off the region’s coast than anywhere in the world, and with it real opportunities for local businesses right now. That’s only going to increase with the further development of East Anglia zone,” he said.
“As the flagship hub for offshore renewables companies in the East, OrbisEnergy’s position in Lowestoft will put our tenants and many other local firm at the heart of the activity.
“OrbisEnergy is providing the platform for networking, introductions, business growth and much more in a magnificent building overlooking the sea where offshore wind farms will be built out for decades to come.”
