Associated British Ports (ABP) has signed a long-term agreement with ScottishPower Renewables to support operations and maintenance for the East Anglia 2 and 3 offshore wind farms from its Lowestoft facilities, the companies said.
Under the partnership, ScottishPower Renewables will use berths at the £35 million Lowestoft Eastern Energy Facility for service operation vessels and crew transfer vessels. The site features deep-water berths and infrastructure designed to accommodate future offshore energy activities, ABP said.
“This partnership with ScottishPower Renewables is a major step forward for Lowestoft and the UK’s offshore wind ambitions,” said Andy Reay, head of offshore wind at ABP.
ScottishPower Renewables, which already operates the East Anglia 1 O&M base in Lowestoft, plans to invest over £8 million to expand its presence, including a new operations and maintenance base for East Anglia 3 that will accommodate around 100 staff. Peak construction activity across the projects’ supply chains is expected to support more than 2,300 jobs, the company added.
“Lowestoft is our long-term home and the heart of our UK offshore wind operations,” said Ross Ovens, UK managing director offshore at ScottishPower Renewables. “We already have a strong working relationship with ABP, and this new agreement builds on years of successful collaboration as we prepare to deliver EA2 and EA3 to power a cleaner and greener future.”
