How investment, innovation and skills are strengthening Northumberland's role as a national clean-energy leader and Pioneers in Offshore Wind
Northumberland’s offshore wind sector enters 2026 with real momentum, building on a year that celebrated innovation, investment and the strength of the county’s growing clean-energy community.
We caught up with Michael Harriott, Senior Business Growth and Investment Manager at Business Northumberland, to reflect on 2025, a landmark year marking 25 years of offshore wind in Northumberland, and to look ahead to 2026, as the sector continues to advance with the planned opening of new facilities and the development of vital skills infrastructure.
2025 marked a proud milestone as the Port of Blyth celebrated 25 years at the heart of the UK’s offshore wind story. From supporting the installation of the nation’s first offshore turbines off the Northumberland coast in 2000, the port has helped shape the region’s reputation as a trusted hub for renewable energy. Today, with Investment Zone land at the Port of Blyth, new opportunities are opening up for businesses looking to join Northumberland’s vibrant energy supply chain cluster, Energy Central.
Northumberland’s innovation offer also took a significant step forward with the opening of ORE Catapult’s new Technology Development Centre (TDC) in Blyth. This multi-million-pound facility has expanded testing and validation capabilities, supporting the development of next-generation offshore wind technologies and reinforcing Northumberland’s role as a place where ideas can be tested, refined and brought to market.
Investment in people has been just as important. The launch of the Energy Central Learning Hub has created a welcoming, purpose-built space for education and training, helping local people prepare for careers in offshore renewables, advanced engineering and clean energy operations. By bringing together schools, employers and industry partners, the hub is already helping to build the skilled workforce the sector needs for the future.
Looking ahead, 2026 promises another exciting chapter. Construction is expected to begin on the Energy Central Institute (ECI), the next phase of the Energy Central campus. The ECI will provide higher-level technical training, specialist research and industry-focused innovation facilities, further strengthening Blyth’s position as a centre for offshore wind research, skills and collaboration.
This year will also see the opening of the JDR Cables manufacturing facility near Blyth. The new plant will manufacture high-voltage subsea cables for offshore wind projects, creating hundreds of skilled jobs and further anchoring the offshore wind supply chain in Northumberland.
Alongside this, ORE Catapult is preparing to commission a new high-voltage cable testing rig, a state-of-the-art facility that will support faster, more reliable testing and certification of subsea power cables, benefiting offshore wind projects across the UK.
As 2026 unfolds, Northumberland continues to build on strong foundations combining innovation, skills, infrastructure and long-term investment to shape a thriving clean-energy future. A place of collaboration, ambition and opportunity, Northumberland - Pioneers in Offshore Wind.
To find out how you can join us on our offshore wind journey, please get in touch with the team.
Michael Harriott - Senior Business Growth and Investment Manager - Business Northumberland