BOOSTING LOCAL ECONOMY VIA RENEWABLE INVESTMENT

BOOSTING LOCAL ECONOMY VIA RENEWABLE INVESTMENT

With immense opportunity in the sector, the Green Port Hull was established to promote the Humber region as a renewable energy hub, with an aim to attract renewable energy investment, creating jobs and boosting the local economy.

With a prime port location, the Humber region presented an unprecedented opportunity – strategically located to capitalise on the UK’s offshore wind industry.

THE CHALLENGE

PROJECT PARTNERS

 

Turning an ambitious vision into a reality

Siemens Gamesa and Associated British Ports (ABP) announced a £310 million investment to develop the Green Port Hull (GPH) site centred around the offshore wind turbine blade factory on Alexandra Dock in Hull in March 2014. The factory was opened on 1 December last year.

Initial discussions with Siemens to the loading of the first blades in January 2017, lasted 8 years and was challenging, with several delays and obstacles that presented themselves along the way.

GPH felt that the journey was worth documenting as there are many lessons to be learnt from policy implications to skills, local authorities and stakeholders support. Learnings would also help Hull and the East Riding to become even more efficient in attracting inward investment while ensuring the maximum economic, social and environmental benefits to its population and businesses.

THE SOLUTION

PROJECT FUNDER

Positioning the Humber as the UK’s Energy Estuary

In 2016, The University of Hull embarked on a socio economic impact assessment of the Siemens Gamesa and ABP investment of the blade factory at Alexandra Dock.

The three-year project reviewed the processes and main operating principles of Green Port Hull, providing valuable insights to stakeholders as to possible areas of improvement. It studied the economic, environmental and social impacts of developing a new industry using the Siemens-Gamesa investment as a business case. Providing evidence, analytics and key performance indicators to devise new strategies or revise current ones, and to take corrective actions whenever necessary to attract and develop businesses all along the renewable value chain.

THE RESULT

Creating the right business environment for offshore wind to thrive

Research has shown that the Siemens Gamesa and ABP £310m investment into the offshore wind turbine blade factory has paid dividends.

For every £1 of investment, an additional 47 pence will be generated in the disposable income of the local economy of the Humber.

Direct employment has seen over 1,000 jobs created for the plant with potential for an additional 627 supporting jobs based on the latest employment multiplier data for the UK manufacturing sector. With 76 long term unemployed residents securing sustainable employment and a significant reduction in benefit costs.

With great potential for more supply chain opportunities and further growth in the Humber, the findings were critical in creating the right business environment for Hull and the East Riding to become the go-to-place and a world leader for renewable energy.