Major centre for the clean energy industry

UK FIRST TESTING FACILITY TO BE BUILT IN BLYTH AFTER £2.1MILLION INVESTMENT

- By JAMES ROBINSON Reporter

A NEW offshore wind cable testing rig will be built at the Port of Blyth after a £2.1m investment was secured.

The cash comes from the North East Combined Authority, working in partnership with the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult.

It will allow ORE to build a new, high voltage electrical test facility at the company’s already “world-leading” site in Blyth.

Bespoke equipment will be installed to carry out testing on high voltage cable systems.

It will be the first facility of its kind in the UK. Currently, this type of testing can take up to two years, meaning the new development will speed up nationwide production and shorten the time needed to market new tech.

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said the move helped secure Blyth’s place as a key part of the green energy sector.

The mayor said: “We are making the North East the home of the green energy revolution and I am pleased we are funding projects like this amazing new offshore wind cable testing rig in Blyth to make this a reality for local people. This will be the only facility like this in the UK underpinning the North East's status as the UK's leading region for clean energy.