Group chases wind farm deal

Jul 26 2008 by Chris Knox, The Journal

A RENEWABLE energy consortium hopes to land a contract to supply thousands of homeowners with ‘green energy’ from a wind turbine site off the North East coast.

The consortium, made up of Durham-based Banks Developments, London firm Hainsford Developments and Blyth-based research organisation the New and Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC), intends to develop several offshore wind farms planned for the North Sea.

It is involved in the second round of its bid to coastal landowner Crown Estates and, if successful, will create a new electricity supply company which would bring the power generated to thousands of homes and businesses.

Earlier this week, energy minister Malcolm Wicks, who was in the region visiting NaREC, said the North East coastline will benefit from 11 offshore sites earmarked by Crown Estates. The plans are expected to create around 30,000 jobs in the region and contribute £3bn to its economy.

Alan Rutherford, NaREC chairman, said: “This is a great initiative which will spawn major employment opportunities and build international knowledge based enterprises with their roots and expertise in the North East.”

The consortium, Northumbria Offshore Wind Ltd (NOW), believes it has the experience and knowledge to be successful in the bid, and is already planning the construction of the wind farms. Hainsford already operates five wind farms throughout the UK and recently upgraded its turbines on Blyth Harbour, while Banks, which is best known for its mining operations, is working on its first wind farm in Tow Law, North West Durham, and is planning another site in Darlington.

Rob Williams, renewables projects director at Banks, said: “We’ve definitely got a chance of winning the bid given the experience we have within the consortium.

“We all have a number of contacts in the North East which would mean that the construction and development of the wind farms would be of direct benefit to the region.”

This is a great initiative which will spawn major employment opportunities