Port expansion suits offshore renewable industry

Offshore decommissioning operations and the renewable energy industry in the East of England could benefit from plans to expand Great Yarmouth’s outer harbour even before existing construction has been completed.

Scheme operator Eastport UK has announced plans to develop a further 300 metres of quay as part of the over £50 million project in Norfolk.

Chief executive Eddie Freeman told the Great Yarmouth Mercury: "The quay will now be about 500m long, giving us much greater flexibility to exploit commercial opportunities that we see presenting themselves, including offshore decommissioning, wind farms and other renewables."

He added that the extension had always been planned and that speeding up the plans meant the project could take advantage of having contractors already on site.

Evidence of Norfolk’s growing importance for the renewable industry came recently, when plans were approved for the UK’s fourth largest wind farm, which would be sited in the Wash.

The 315MW Sheringham Shoal offshore wind farm to be developed by Scira Offshore Energy, could provide power for 178,000 homes.