Our mission (should we choose to accept it) was to come up with 25 reasons why Northumberland is THE place for offshore wind. The reason for this mission? To celebrate 25 years of offshore wind in 2025, at Port of Blyth, Northumberland’s deep-water port. It was no Mission Impossible. In fact, we found it hard to stop at just 25. Check out our blog and discover 25 reasons why green energy is at the heart of Northumberland, why we’re innovators in offshore wind and why we’re the destination to invest in for clean energy projects.
1. Experts in offshore wind, innovators, problem solvers. Deep-water Port of Blyth offer businesses a world-class location with the expertise to match. This year we’re celebrating 25 years of offshore wind at Port of Blyth, so we’ve put together 25 reasons why Northumberland is the place to be for offshore wind. Join us on this journey as we count down to Global Offshore Wind 2025, where the Port of Blyth and Energy Central Team will be in attendance, showcasing offshore wind in Northumberland. If you’re looking for a port with a solutions focussed supply chain, low carbon initiatives, 5G capability and experts in handling major clean energy projects, then Port of Blyth is the port of choice.
2. Energy Central - a unique partnership between Advance Northumberland, Northumberland County Council, North East Combined Authority, Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult and Port of Blyth - has proven a key part of the vision to move Northumberland towards global leader status in renewables. As a fully operational green energy hub, Energy Central comprises of world-leading organisations, bespoke training services, high-class R&D expertise and infrastructure. Energy Central can offer businesses quay-linked development land, manufacturing and office accommodation opportunities. It also offers offshore wind businesses the opportunity to take advantage of world-renowned R&D, skills and training, as well as premier port access.
3. In 2000, Blyth became home to the UK’s first ever offshore wind farm. The project consisted of two 2MW turbines located 2km offshore. At the time these Vestas turbines were the largest turbines installed offshore, in the world. The turbines were capable of generating enough power to supply energy for around 2,000 homes. True pioneers in the sector, Port of Blyth has been supporting, innovating and operating in offshore wind for 25 years.
4. Today Port of Blyth is home to five 8.3MW turbines which are located 6.5km off the coast of Blyth. The ‘Blyth Offshore Wind Demonstrator’ Project uses innovative gravity-based foundations to generate 41.5MW of electricity capable of powering around 34,000 homes. The project demonstrates Northumberland’s strength as a location for offshore wind, being the second project to take place in the area in 20 years. Blyth continues to grow and develop as a choice for many investors operating in the offshore wind and clean energy markets.
5. Energy Central Learning Hub is a new state-of-the-art STEM education and vocational training facility based at Port of Blyth. The hub provides industrial training relevant to the offshore wind sector and expanding clean energy sector. The unique space also offers event and meeting space in an inspirational setting with views out over deep-water Port of Blyth and its vibrant supply chain operating along the estuary.
6. Energising Blyth is a £110m regeneration programme to transform Blyth. The programme includes 13 major projects which will help to deliver a:
● Vibrant Town: Renew the town centre with new cultural, education, leisure and residential projects around a revitalised Market Place.
● Growing Town: Boost the growth of Blyth's major renewable energy industry at the Quayside, Port of Blyth and industrial sites.
● Inclusive Town: Provide skills, culture and leisure activities for the benefit of local people, communities and businesses.
● Connected Town: Improve walking and cycling routes and connections to public transport networks, making it easier to travel into / out of Blyth.
● Clean Growth Town: All the above supported by being a leading place for delivering net zero and a just transition
7. 2025 saw the reopening and redevelopment of the Northumberland Line which includes two stations in Blyth, Newsham and Blyth Bebside. Connected via sea, major A roads, freight and now passenger rail services, Blyth is now more accessible than ever before. The town offers an excellent opportunity for investors operating in the clean energy markets to grow their business in a highly connected setting with deep roots in offshore wind.
8. The UK’s leading technology innovation and research centre for offshore renewable energy, Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, is located in Blyth, Northumberland. Innovation is at the core of what ORE Catapult do as they support the development of offshore renewable energy and support businesses operating within the clean energy sector to learn, advance and grow. This incredible facility has capacity to test wind turbine blades up to 150m in length.
9. If you DARE to come down to Blyth today you’re in for a big surprise… The Digital Autonomous and Robotics Engineering Centre at ORE Catapult offers businesses, developers and wider industry to test and develop innovative digital technology for the offshore wind sector. The centre includes access to a robotics assembly bay, an airborne robotics test zone and three dry docks.
10. Opening in 2025, the new £6 million Technology Development Centre at ORE Catapult will offer opportunities to SME’s, supporting them to test and develop innovative technologies from early stage to market ready. The facility houses a 1MW test rig and mini electrical grid system to enable businesses to test and certify electrical compliance of their devices.
11. From coal power, to cable power, Northumberland continues to evolve and develop as a location for green energy. JDR’s new £130 million subsea cable manufacturing facility is set to open in Cambois, Northumberland later this year. Located at Northumberland Energy Park, on the site of former coal fired Blyth Power Station, the project will create 170 high quality, local jobs. The project demonstrates the strength of the Energy Central partnership, who supported the investment throughout its lifecycle.
12. Northumberland’s offshore energy supply chain is big enough to deliver, but small enough to feel personal. We’ve been synonymous with offshore energy for a quarter of a century.While the county leads the way in renewable energy, our dynamic sector supply chain has become more established, specialist and solutions-focused. Clean energy focussed businesses can enjoy a culture of end-to-end support from design through to testing, fabrication and delivery. It’s no coincidence that world-leading innovators including EDF Renewables, Enshore and Osbit have made their home in Northumberland, and that the UK was ranked in the top 5 most attractive markets for renewable energy investment in EY’s Renewable Energy Attractiveness Index in 2024.
13. Much like a wind turbine, the offshore wind sector is always turning, moving and evolving. Innovation is at the heart of Northumberland’s offshore wind sector. With funded programmes such as TIGGOR (Technology, Innovation & Green Growth for Offshore Renewables) available for businesses to take advantage of. Programmes like TIGGOR support businesses to develop their innovative ideas for the offshore wind industry, with the support of experts at ORE Catapult.
14. Did you know that Blyth’s legacy in wind began in 1993? Whilst we often talk about the UK’s first offshore wind farm opening in Blyth at the millennium, the towns history with wind goes back to the early 90’s when Blyth Harbour Wind Farm was built along the estuary. Just one year later, Port of Blyth began working with onshore turbines, demonstrating a 30 year legacy, understanding and experience of working in the green energy sector. There is no better place for businesses operating in the green energy sector to call home, than Northumberland.
15. The North East Investment Zone (NEIZ), worth £160m, is now live in North East England. With a strong heritage and world-class reputation across the renewables and manufacturing sector, the deal will support growth across the ‘clean energy’ and ‘green manufacturing’ sectors over the next 10 years. The programme aims to secure major inward investors, encourage co-location of wider supply chains, and support the growth of existing businesses. It is expected to leverage at least £3 billion investment and create more than 4,000 jobs.
16. Northumberland is lucky enough to be home to a number of legends, a few of which have strong ties to Blyth… sorry we’re not talking about Big Dan Burn, but another legend, one of the wind industry. Dr Alan Lowdon OBE – or ‘Big Al’ to us.
Reflecting on his time spent working at the National Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC), supporting with the inception of ORE Catapult and working as a Harbour Commissioner at Port of Blyth, Alan’s celebratory blog demonstrates the strength, innovation and ambition of Blyth and Northumberland’s offshore wind sector.
17. Floating into the future… EDF Renewables plans to build a new floating offshore wind farm near Blyth off the coast of Northumberland. The project will exclusively use and demonstrate innovative floating offshore wind technology. With a 25-year legacy in offshore wind, it’s exciting to see what the future of the sector is set to look like in Northumberland. And buoy we can’t wait to see it! (We had to get a floating joke in!)
18. Looking for a room with a view? Blyth Workspace offers businesses operating in the offshore wind sector the ultimate location. Situated on Blyth Quayside, the modern office space overlooks the estuary and bustling Port of Blyth. Get in touch with us via the ‘Contact us’ section to discuss your requirements further.
19. Earlier this year, Tony Quinn Test & Validation Director at ORE Catapult, headed off into his well-earned retirement. A legend of the offshore wind industry, passionate about innovation and dedicated to promoting STEM education, Tony is a true giant of the offshore wind sector. Dr Alan Lowdon took time to reflect on the impact Tony has had in Northumberland as well as the offshore wind sector during his career.
20. Looking for industrial space for your green energy project? Our interactive map on investnorthumberland.com can help with that. Use our handy tool to view some of the properties currently available for your business in Northumberland.
21. Looking for a new place to call home? Northumberland has a range of large-scale land opportunities, including quay linked sites, available in and around Blyth. Get in touch with us via the ‘Contact us’ section to discuss your requirements further.
22. When exploring where to locate their construction base for Sofia Offshore Wind Farm, RWE visited Northumberland and it became clear why Blyth was the obvious choice.
“The Port of Blyth offers us not only a strategic location and access to a strong marine supply chain but also an impressive new facility that will also ensure a legacy beyond the project.” Matthew Swanwick – Project Director of Sofia, RWE
23. In 2024, Northumberland welcomed Dublin based business, Supernode, to the county - opening of its new Cable Technology Centre in Blyth and expanding existing operations beyond Dublin. The inward investment team at Business Northumberland supported Supernode throughout the investment process helping with recruitment, funding information, training and introduction to local supply chain.
24. Underpinning Northumberland’s key sectors is a diverse and talented workforce with significant investment in education, training, and skills. Major educational facilities including Port Training Services, Northumberland Skills Welding and Fabrication Centre, Energy Central Learning Hub and Northumberland College, demonstrate we’re serious about STEM. This is bolstered by over half of students based at North East universities are studying STEM subjects, ensuring a strong talent pipeline for the future.
25. Green skills of the future? Set to open in 2027, Energy Central Institute, part of Energy Central Campus, will be located in the centre of Blyth and will continue to grow and nurture the green talent pipeline of the future. This new higher-level skills and innovation facility will develop energy sector expertise at degree and PhD levels. Energy Central Institute will create a focal point for collaboration between energy businesses, Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult and North East universities, developing higher-level skills and technological innovations to keep Northumberland at the forefront of energy sector growth.
If you’re keen to learn more visit the team at UKREiiF on the 20th-22nd May on the North East England Pavilion. Join us on the stand on Thursday 22nd May as we discuss ‘The power of offshore wind: Driving investment in the UK’ – sign up via the link below.
The power of offshore wind: Driving investment in the UK | Thursday 22nd May | 1130-1215 |
North East England Pavilion 14:
Pink Zone on the Dockside and Dock Water