A North Wales port has unveiled multi-million pound plans to construct a new generation of floating windfarms.<\/p>\n
The Port of Mostyn is embarking on a consultation programme before submitting a planning application to Flintshire County Council for a change of use to set up a manufacturing plant on site.<\/p>\n
The port\u2019s managing director, Jim O\u2019Toole, said the scheme to make concrete gravity bases and steel structures for offshore wind turbines will create a \u201csignificant number of jobs\u201d.<\/p>\n
The development would also involve building new modular offices and workshops.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, the port has also applied to Natural Resources Wales (NRW)\u00a0 for a marine licence to build a new 350 metre long quay wall and reclaim 5.2 hectares of land behind it.<\/p>\n
Dredging work would also be needed to create new quay for ships whilst deepening existing berths, with the approach channel being re-dredged.<\/p>\n
If the scheme gets the go-ahead, construction is expected to take around 21 months, depending on the weather, and would create around 130 new jobs.<\/p>\n
The port was the birthplace of offshore wind energy in the UK two decades ago.<\/p>\n
The first two windfarms, North Hoyle off the coast of North Wales and Robin Rigg in the Solway Firth, were built there.<\/p>\n
Since then the port has been involved in the construction of a further seven offshore windfarm projects.<\/p>\n
Mr O\u2019Toole said: \u201cPotentially, having a manufacturing facility here would be a very significant development for the Port of Mostyn as well as being great news for the wider regional economy.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it gets the go-ahead, there will be a very significant number of jobs but we won\u2019t know the exact number until we have completed the competitive tender process to appoint a contractor for the scheme.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs part of the planning process, we are conducting a 28 day consultation prior to applying for permission to Flintshire County Council<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the meantime, we have applied to Natural Resources Wales to create new deep water berths to facilitate the development.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe work will include creating an additional 5.2 hectares of land adjacent to the berths for the storage and assembly of turbine components prior to being shipped to the windfarm\u2019s offshore location.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe construction of the new berths and the associated works would create more than 130 new jobs.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe purpose of the new, larger quays is to facilitate the larger, heavier turbines for the new generation of turbines.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe new infrastructure will be multi-purpose to enable fabrication and assembly of both fixed foundation and floating turbines.<\/p>\n
\u201cPrimarily, it\u2019s for floating offshore wind turbines which is a new concept to meet the growing demand for renewable energy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe concrete gravity bases will be manufactured at the port using materials supplied by local companies with local workforces.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe turbine components will also be imported for final assembly at Mostyn and then taken offshore to be integrated with the foundations.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe current energy crisis is concentrating minds and has underlined the urgent need to increase our capacity.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are proud of the part we have played in the history of developing offshore renewable energy and we are keen to have a key role in the securing the future of this important industry.\u201d<\/p>\n