Lowestoft's role as wind energy capital
Wednesday 6th June 2007Trade and industry secretary Alistair Darling has officially launched the £9 million OrbisEnergy project at Lowestoft.
And he heard that the development at Ness Point could turn Lowestoft into the country's wind energy capital.
The new business centre was ideally placed to lead the way in delivering the clean energy commitments made in the minister's white paper last month. It will overlook a section of the North Sea which has become a global focal point for wind and wave energy.
It is hoped that the building, which will house about 30 businesses involved in the emerging offshore energy industry, could also provide a catalyst for further regeneration of the town's waterfront.
Mr Darling said there was no doubt that renewable energy was one of the growth areas that would benefit not only Lowestoft but the whole of the UK.
Promoting renewable energy, particularly offshore, was very important to the government.
He said the advantage of the Suffolk coast was that there was a lot of wind and the sea conditions were more favourable than in other parts of the country.
The site is due to become operational next May, creating about 150 jobs.
Waveney MP Bob Blizzard said the aim was to make Lowestoft the wind energy capital of Great Britain, at the centre of the offshore renewable energy industry.
The Orbis building itself was designed as a showcase for carbon-reducing green technologies, featuring solar thermal heating, natural wind ventilators and a biomass boiler.
It is being built with support from the East of England Development Agency, the Government Office for the East of England, Suffolk County Council, Waveney District Council and Renewables East.
