ScottishPower Renewables has confirmed Lowestoft as the “long-term home for UK offshore wind” after expanding its presence in the town.
Investing £8 million, it has acquired and will develop a site in the town’s PowerPark on Trinity Road, taking it over from RJ Pryce. This will become a permanent base for ScottishPower Renewables to support the delivery of its offshore wind projects in the East of England.
It will have capacity for around 100 people and primarily be an operations and maintenance base for the East Anglia THREE offshore wind farm – which is currently under construction.
Lowestoft MP, Jess Asato, described ScottishPower wanting to establish Lowestoft as a long-term hub for its offshore wind operations in the UK as a “game-changer” for the town.
Asato continued: “With a multi-million-pound investment, this project will not only support our windfarms, but also create local jobs, boosting employment in green energy. This investment is a key step toward regenerating Lowestoft and positioning it as a leader in the clean energy industry, ensuring long-term benefits for Lowestoft.”
In a separate, albeit significant development, the energy landscape in Lowestoft is set to evolve further still with the completion of the £4.27 million hub “Nexus”.
Nexus is striving to create a cluster of industry bases that will suit East Suffolk’s offshore renewables, engineering and maritime priorities. It has turned what was vacant land into a new business hub site, with 16 purpose-built contemporary business units, all of varying sizes, set, ranging between 35 square metres and 225 square metres. It forms part of Lowestoft’s PowerPark and interest is already strong among green energy companies.
Managing Director of Opergy Group, Johnathan Reynolds, said it was great to see Nexus nearing completion and congratulated East Suffolk Council, describing it as a “sound investment”.
Reynolds continued: “From my time managing OrbisEnergy and in multiple studies and projects since, we have long advocated for investment in grow-on spaces, so it’s brilliant to see this come to fruition. Nexus will be an important hub for the offshore and marine supply chain and for OrbisEnergy tenants to expand onto the wider PowerPark. This is another step for Lowestoft’s continued regeneration and investment in offshore renewables. Looking forward to seeing the opportunities this creates for local businesses!”
