UK port operator Associated British Ports (ABP) has announced plans to develop the Port of Barrow into an advanced engineering and renewable energy hub. The initiative includes a floating solar plant, expanded offshore wind services, and maritime infrastructure to support hydrogen imports and carbon storage.
As part of the port's broader masterplan, ABP outlined three core objectives: to foster growth for an advanced engineering cluster, develop a net zero cluster, and support local businesses, communities, and the environment.
The first project under the second objective will be the installation of a floating solar farm, Barrow EnergyDock, with a capacity of up to 32 MWp in Cavendish Dock. The project will undergo a public consultation process before construction begins.
Once operational, the solar farm will generate enough electricity to power approximately 10,300 homes annually, with its output intended to support the local advanced engineering sector.
The masterplan also includes constructing new operations and maintenance (O&M) bases and berths for larger service operation vessels (SOVs) to enhance support for the offshore wind industry.
Barrow already hosts five O&M bases, and the new facilities are expected to accommodate future investments of GBP 17 billion in wind energy developments in the Eastern Irish Sea under the Round 4 process.
