http://www.nwda.co.uk/pdf/Wind%20brochure

WIND ENERGY IN ENGLAND’S NORTHWEST

ENGLAND’S NORTHWEST:SEIZING THEOPPORTUNITIESIN OFFSHOREWIND ENERGY

Robin Rigg wind farm

WIND POWER IN THE NORTHWEST

650 miles of shallow coastline

Over 150 supply chain companies

4 major ports

3 international airports

5GW potential in Irish Sea zone

Powerful potential As the UK embraces the opportunities of wind power, England’s Northwest has the potential to play a vital role in the country’s future energy mix England’s Northwest is at the very heart of developments in the wind energy sector. This region is long-recognised as the heart of the UK’s energy industry – from nuclear to renewables – and is regarded as one of the UK’s most promising regions for offshore wind power. The huge Irish Sea zone, off the Northwest’s coast, has the potential to produce up to 5GW – the second highest energy output of all Round Three wind farm zones.

There are excellent port facilities at Barrow, Liverpool, Birkenhead and Workington, already geared up to serving the needs of the offshore energy industry.

Combined with easy access to key strategic sites in the Irish Sea, excellent motorway links to all corners of the country, and three international airports at Manchester, Liverpool and Blackpool, it is not hard to see why the wind power sector in England’s Northwest is brimming with opportunities.

Wildcat Marine’s catamaran services Barrow wind farm.

Photo courtesy of Furness Enterprise.

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The UK is regarded as one of the top five markets in the world for offshore wind energy, due to its unrivalled combination of bountiful wind resource, extensive offshore territory and top-level commitment to renewable energy sources.

Analysis suggests that the UK could attract 45% of the global offshore wind market by 2020, delivering £65 billion of net economic value and 225,000 jobs by 2050. The country is projected to produce 32% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020 – with wind energy providing the lion’s share.

Wind energy is the most technically and economically developed renewable technology. It is therefore the source which can best deliver on the scale required to ensure the UK meets its international renewable commitments of sourcing 15% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.

The latest Round Three wind farm licences, to total 33GW by 2020, will require around 7,000 additional turbines, generating enough power for up to 25 million homes.

Robin Rigg

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WORKINGTON CUMBRIA

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Barrow West Duddon

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Ormonde Walney

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‘‘THE NORTHWEST PROVIDES AN IDEAL FOUNDATION FOR CAPITALISING ON THE HUGE OPPORTUNITIES IN WIND ENERGY.’’ John Childs, senior vice president sales and marketing, Vestas Northern Europe

BLACKPOOL LANCASHIRE

MANCHESTER Burbo Bank Gwynt y Môr LIVERPOOL North Hoyle Rhyl Flats BIRKENHEAD

CHESHIRE

City Airport Port Offshore Wind Farm

Map source: Ordnance Survey Crown Copyright 2009 All Rights Reserved GD021102

Investment opportunities The region has long been at the forefront of wind energy, attracting firms like Siemens and Vestas The Northwest has a long 650-mile coastline on the Irish Sea, identified by the Government as one of the UK’s key strategic areas for wind energy investment.

Its shallow sloping shores with depths of between five and 30 metres means that the construction, erection and servicing of wind farms is easier and more cost effective than in many other regions, while its prevailing westerly wind can ensure consistent wind energy generation.

The region is already one of the most active in offshore wind development, with high levels of operational capacity and among the highest activity levels in projects that are operational, under construction or have planning approval.

Indeed, it was one of the first regions in the world to embrace the potential of offshore wind power, with the commissioning of the North Hoyle wind farm in 2003. There are now a total of nine offshore wind farms in the Northwest either in operation, under construction or approved. Together these comprise 652 wind turbines with an installed capacity of 2.36GW. In terms of Round Three licences, the vast Irish Sea zone has the potential to produce up to 5GW – the second highest estimated output of any of the nine Round Three zones.

World class wind energy companies such as Vestas and Siemens already have a significant presence. Vestas has been operating in the UK since 2001 and it established a sales, project and service office specifically for the market in Warrington, Cheshire, in 2004.

“The key factors for locating our UK head office in Warrington were the need for a strong supply chain, good

transport connections, and the ability to attract suitably skilled employees for our industry. The Northwest more than delivers on all of these points,” said John Childs, senior vice president for sales and marketing at Vestas Northern Europe.

Another global player, Siemens, has a major presence in Manchester. Siemens Energy is the UK market leader in designing and building grid connections for offshore wind farms. Its Manchester site is a global centre of competence in renewable connections, working on projects all over the UK and right across Northern Europe, from the Netherlands to Finland. It was the Manchester-based renewable connections team that engineered the platform substation for Greater Gabbard, one of the largest wind farms in the world.

In the Northwest, Siemens is working with Dong Energy on its Walney wind farm, designing the harmonic filter equipment to enable the farm to meet the requirements of the UK grid. The company also supplied the wind turbines at Burbo Bank wind farm, off the Liverpool coast, which is maintained and serviced from a depot at West Brocklebank Dock in the Port of Liverpool.

In addition, Siemens is developing a local capability in high voltage DC connections to meet the future needs of the renewable energy sector, which will be based out of Manchester.

“We expect the size of our market to quadruple in the next five years. As a consequence, we will need to significantly expand our workforce in the UK, and our solid, successful base in Manchester allows us to do that,” said Matthew Knight, business development manager at Siemens Energy.

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Greater Gabbard substation: designed by Siemens in Manchester.

Reproduced with permission of Siemens plc.

Robin Rigg

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WORKINGTON

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Barrow

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Ormonde Walney West Duddon

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BLACKPOOL

LANCASHIRE

MANCHESTER Burbo Bank Gwynt y Môr LIVERPOOL North Hoyle WARRINGTON Rhyl Flats BIRKENHEAD

CHESHIRE

THE VAST IRISH SEA ZONE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE UP TO 5GW. P

SIEMENS’ MANCHESTER OFFICE IS A GLOBAL CENTRE OF COMPETENCE IN RENEWABLE CONNECTIONS.

Excellent port facilities: Barrow Barrow is one of four Northwest ports geared up for the needs of the offshore energy industry England’s Northwest has some of the UK’s strongest port facilities, led by the ports of Barrow, Liverpool, Birkenhead and Workington. They are well equipped in terms of capacity, sites and skilled labour, and highly experienced in servicing the needs of the offshore energy industry.

In addition, all four are located in UK assisted areas, which means a higher level of government support and funding may be available for businesses investing in the region.

The Port of Barrow is an ideal location for servicing wind farms in the Irish Sea. Lying 100 miles northwest of Manchester Airport, it is the gateway to the UK’s Energy Coast, a £2 billion package of regeneration projects that will establish West Cumbria as a major hub for low carbon and renewable energy generation.

The port is in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week, serving shipping routes to Ireland, mainland Europe, the north Atlantic and further afield. It can handle ships up to 32 metres beam and 230 metres length. Heavy lifting facilities include a 120-tonne quayside crane, while it also boasts two roll-on, roll-off berths with 750-tonne loading facilities.

Barrow has been servicing offshore energy, oil and gas projects since 1975 and has a range of first-class facilities and a large pool of project management, engineering and commissioning skills. It currently serves the wind farms of

Barrow, Ormonde, Walney and West Duddon, with operators including Centrica Energy, Dong, Vestas Celtic, Eclipse Energy, Vattenfall and Scottish Power, together with a raft of dynamic supply chain companies. The port is within five minutes of Walney airport, which has regular helicopter service flights servicing offshore gas fields.

Several potential manufacturing and assembly sites exist, with easy access to excellent facilities, equipment and skills.

The port has long played an important part in the UK’s offshore wind industry. It is currently the long-term service base for the 90MW Barrow wind farm. High-speed transport vessels operated by Wildcat Marine ferry maintenance personnel between the port and the wind farm, which consists of 30 turbines in four rows, two with seven turbines and two with eight. The wind farm, a joint initiative between Centrica and Dong, was one of the UK’s first offshore substations. Facilities at Barrow’s Ramsden Dock were also used during the offshore substation’s operations and fitting out stage.

As well as supporting the Barrow wind farm, the port is well placed to service future offshore developments as it is already used to assemble and integrate offshore transformer platforms.

‘‘NOWHERE IN THE UK IS THERE A MORE STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT AREA THAN THE NORTHWEST COAST OF ENGLAND, AND IN PARTICULAR FOR ENERGY GENERATION, THE FURNESS PENINSULAANDITSCOASTLINE WEST OF BARROW.’’ Kevin Cochrane, Centrica energy asset manager, Morecambe Bay

Up to 20 acres (80,000m2) of development land

Handles ships up 230m length x 32m beam

Photo courtesy of Furness Enterprise.

Two roll-on, roll-off berths with 750-tonne loading facilities

Two quays of 250m and 200m

120-tonne quayside crane for heavy lifting

Port of Liverpool One of the UK’s largest deepwater ports, Liverpool is a major location for container trade with North America The Port of Liverpool is the west coast’s major international deepwater port and one of the largest in the UK. Access to the port is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and each year it handles 32 million tonnes of freight and 700,000 containers, on 1,200 acres of operational docks on both banks of the River Mersey. The port dominates the UK’s container trade with North America and serves more than 100 non-EU destinations, including China, India, Africa, Australia, the Middle East and South America.

Liverpool is unique in offering both roll-on, roll-off and container lift-on lift-off services on the Irish Sea. The widest dock gate is 42.67 metres wide and can accommodate the largest installation vessels. Port facilities include a range of large development areas directly alongside deepwater docks and berths, and a sea-going 250-tonne floating crane.

The port’s Royal Seaforth Container Terminal has been the subject of £50 million worth of investment since 2000,

Extensive wind power experience

including the purchase of six ship-to-shore gantry cranes.

Liverpool also operates a pusher tug barge service that links the Royal Seaforth Container Terminal with the inland container terminal at Irlam on the Manchester Ship Canal, which offers an alternative to moving goods on the UK’s roads.

The port has extensive experience in servicing and supporting offshore industries. It possesses an excellent local skills base that has grown up around companies such as the nearby Cammell Laird shipyard.

Liverpool is also home to the UK’s largest and most successful free zone, Liverpool Freeport. This comprises more than 3.6 million square feet of warehousing. A second phase is in development that will add another 400,000 square feet, bringing the port’s total logistics accommodation to more than four million square feet.

One of the UK’s largest deepwater ports

250-tonne sea-going, floating crane for heavy lifting

More than 4 million sq ft of logistics accommodation

Widest dock gate of 42.67m

Port of Birkenhead Capitalising on over180 years’experience in marine engineering, Birkenhead has a heritage in shipbuilding The Port of Birkenhead boasts one of the busiest shipyards in the UK, Cammell Laird Shiprepairers and Shipbuilders. The shipyard, originally established in1829, is a centre of excellence for shipbuilding, repair and conversion.

It specialises in commercial marine repair, conversion, heavy fabrication/engineering and military refit. It operates four large dry docks that measure up to 289 metres x 42.7 metres x 10 metres.

The wider port is home to 14,000 square metres of workshops, cargo space and office infrastructure, which support these four docks.

To complement these facilities, Birkenhead has a 15,000 square metre main construction hall that includes 250-tonne capacity overhead cranes with 36 metre hook height. It includes two 150-metre bays, with one door measuring

43 metres x 26.5 metres and the other 34 metres x 26.5 metres. The construction hall provides a covered environment that enables large steelwork units to be constructed indoors, without being exposed to the weather and environment.

The sizeable hall is an iconic element of the port and one of its most distinctive features. It is located next to the port’s ship repair facilities, which offer direct river access via a conventional slipway launch. Vehicular access to the dry-docks for large modules is also available.

Birkenhead port has more than 180 years’ experience servicing the marine industry. It has a strong, flexible and motivated labour force that regularly exceeds more than 450 highly-skilled workers. This combination of facilities and experience makes Birkenhead an ideal port to support the wind sector.

‘‘THE NORTHWEST, WITH ITS EXCELLENT One of the busiest shipyards in the UK

CAPABILITIES, INFRASTRUCTURE AND FACILITIES – ESPECIALLY THE PORT NETWORKS – WILL WITHOUT DOUBT PLAY AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN HELPING TO MEET THE UK’S RENEWABLE ENERGY TARGETS.’’

250-tonne overhead crane with 36m hook height

Duncan Ayling, head of offshore, British Wind Energy Association

Four large dry docks

14,000m2 of workshops, storage areas and office infrastructure

15,000m2 construction hall

12 Quays, Port of Birkenhead.

Port of Workington A fast-growing and flexible multi-modal hub, Workington is well connected north and south The strength of the Port of Workington, in Cumbria, is its flexibility as a multi-modal hub. The port benefits from direct access to sea, rail and road 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is directly connected to the M6 motorway and the main business and industrial centres in Scotland and England via the A66 trunk road. The port also operates a rail freight terminal for the English, Welsh and Scottish Railway.

There is a good range of modern cargo handling facilities and equipment, supported by operational land with covered and open storage for most major cargoes, including liquid bulks, dry bulks, steel cargo, forest products, agricultural cargo and container freight.

Workington currently handles over 300 ship movements annually, and there is room for expansion. Renewable energy is a key part of the port’s growth strategy, with a focus on offshore wind power. Dock facilities include up to 5.3 hectares of

E.On’s operations centre at Workington.

quayside development land, two 30-tonne Nelcon cranes and 772.7 metres of quay frontage, plus roll-on, roll-off facilities.

The port’s renewable expertise is demonstrated by its support to the developer of the 60-turbine Robin Rigg wind farm, E.On Renewables, and its tier one contractors. The port is supporting the Robin Rigg project with heavy lifts, roll-on, roll-off, provision of plant and labour, quayside laydown and warehouse storage. Office accommodation and marine and boat services will also be provided by the port to support the project. A 15-metre catamaran, The Solway Spirit, operated by local marine services company Solway Maritime, operates to help in the support and maintenance of the wind farm.

E.On has also built a permanent operations and maintenance centre at the port to service the wind farm throughout its 20-year useful life. This will be supported by a strategic store for spares.

‘‘WE’RE DELIGHTED THAT ALMOST ALL OF THE TEAM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAY-TO-DAY RUNNING OF THE ROBIN RIGG WIND FARM ARE LOCALLY RECRUITED FROM ACROSS CUMBRIA.’’ Sally Shenton, E.On Robin Rigg site manager

Robin Rigg substation: serviced from Workington, assembled and commissioned at Barrow.

Two 30-tonne Nelcon cranes

Up to 5.3 hectares of quayside development land

Rail freight terminal

772.7m of quay frontage with roll-on, roll-off facilities

Maintenance port for Robin Rigg wind farm

Supply chain strengths More than 150 companies in the Northwest can supply parts, components and services to the industry The Northwest’s solid base of wind energy-related businesses ranges from major global players such as Siemens, Vestas, Nordex and ABB, to specialist manufacturers and niche service providers. These include companies specialising in components for the offshore environment and companies experienced in operating offshore. Leading names include Agrilek, RJW Engineering and Bay Towage.

The Northwest has long been the centre of the UK’s manufacturing and engineering sectors. It is also an internationally significant hub for the energy industry, including oil, gas and nuclear, as well as renewables. Indeed, many of the skills and engineering capabilities the region has developed to service the traditional energy industries are directly transferable to wind energy.

This includes the skills to make large monopile structures, steel pressure vessels, complex pipe fabrications, cable installation and systems integration.

Moreover, in areas like Barrow, with long standing expertise in the UK’s marine engineering and energy industries, the

region has some of the UK’s best electronics, systems integration capabilities and power supply and control system manufacturing facilities in the UK and Europe.

Significant opportunities exist to become part of the region’s wind energy supply chain, either supplying directly to wind turbine manufacturers, supplying tier 1 or tier 2 suppliers, or supplying wind farm developers.

Envirolink Northwest, the region’s sector development organisation for environmental technologies, has worked closely with the wind energy sector to develop strong links between international project developers and the regional supplier base. The organisation can provide practical, knowledgeable support to help potential inward investors develop commercial relationships with regional and local wind energy companies.

Further information on the region’s supply capabilities and company contact details can be found in England Northwest’s Wind Supply Chain directory: www.envirolinknorthwest.co.uk

NORTHWEST SKILLS AND EXPERTISE Design and manufacturing of marine power substations

Project management for offshore energy projects

Welding, electrical and other skilled trades

Design of large power plant and marine structures

Logistics support and maintenance of offshore energy installations

RJW ENGINEERING Liverpool-based Rewinds and J. Windsor (RJW Engineering) is one of the wind energy industry’s leading maintenance and repair specialists. In addition to repairing generators, RJW offers on-site services such as in-situ generator testing, inspection and repair, the repair of electronic components and also specific parts of the wind turbine control systems.

“THE OFFSHORE AND ONSHORE WIND ENERGY SECTOR IS DYNAMIC AND FAST GROWING, NOWHERE MORE SO THAN IN THE NORTHWEST. DUE TO OUR CENTRAL LOCATION IN LIVERPOOL, AND WITH EASY ACCESS TO IRELAND, RJW HAS BECOME ONE OF THE LEADING REPAIRERS OF WIND TURBINE GENERATORS IN THE UK AND IRELAND.” Gianfranco Colangeli, sales manager, RJW Engineering

Research, skills & support One of the Northwest’s greatest strengths in energy is the skills and training of the workforce As the cradle of the industrial revolution and the mainstay of the UK’s energy and engineering sectors, the region has a proud international heritage and established skills base in developing, manufacturing and assembling large power systems and components.

Moreover, the strong historic bias towards engineering and manufacturing means there is a long and strong tradition of apprenticeships, with a host of top quality further educational colleges training younger workers and apprentices for the advanced engineering and energy sectors.

A wealth of research and development expertise can be found in the Northwest, with the University of Manchester (top 10 in Europe, top 30 in the world), University of Liverpool, University of Salford, Lancaster University, Liverpool John Moores University, Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Bolton all undertaking offshore or large scale wind-related research. There is particular expertise in offshore grid connections and transmission systems.

Energy-related research and innovation is spearheaded by the internationally recognised Joule Centre for Energy Research. Based at the University of Manchester, the Joule Centre is a partnership of Northwest universities, businesses and other organisations associated with the energy industry.

It supports innovation in the energy sector through grants and other financial assistance, and is one of the UK’s first centres dedicated to the development of sustainable energy supplies, pioneering new low-carbon technologies including wave, tidal and micro-hydro systems, and electrical control modelling of High Voltage DC transmission systems for offshore wind farms.

The Northwest’s long-standing commitment and support for wind energy is further demonstrated by the Northern Wind Innovation Programme (NWIP), developed with partners in Yorkshire, Humberside and the Northeast. NWIP is a £2.6 million research fund which aims to address challenges in cost, supply chain capacity and capability, and workforce expertise in offshore marine environments. The NWIP fund focuses broadly around four technology areas: AC/DC electrical conversion, foundation system optimisation, bearing quality improvement and installation technologies.

Although the programme closed for new applications in September 2009, the approved projects will run until autumn 2011.

AGRILEK With over 20 years’ experience in wind energy, Barrow-based electrical engineering firm Agrilek has worked on over 30 onshore and offshore wind projects in the UK, including supplying two 132kV substations for the Robin Rigg wind farm in the Solway Firth, off the coast of Cumbria.

“AGRILEK ARE PROVIDING KEY SERVICES TO ROBIN RIGG, THE LARGEST OFFSHORE WIND FARM IN THE NORTHWEST. WE HAVE BUILT OUR REPUTATION IN THE WIND ENERGY SECTOR OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS HERE IN BARROW, CUMBRIA. IT IS AN IDEAL BASE FROM WHICH TO EXPAND OUR OPERATIONS THROUGHOUT THE UK AND FURTHER AFIELD.” Ian Postlethwaite, technical director, Agrilek

Supporting investors The NWDA leads the economic development of the Northwest and works with companies in a variety of industries and countries in attracting foreign direct investment. With over 3,000 foreign-owned businesses in the region, we have one of the UK’s strongest track records in assisting large companies and SMEs with their location and expansion decisions.

We appreciate that making the best investment decisions requires accurate information and timely, relevant, practical advice.

Our Investment Services team offers a range of free and confidential services designed to assist businesses in making these choices. This includes information on: legal and tax issues; recruitment support; property type, availability and cost; financial assistance; and networking opportunities with potential supply chains and other relevant businesses.

Financial Support The NWDA offers a range of financial support to help businesses with their investment and expansion projects in the Northwest.

Grants for Business Investment support businesses undertaking major investment projects which increase the region’s productivity skills and employment.

Grants for Research and Development help businesses fund the R&D required to get new products to market.

Support for innovation in carbon reduction technology is also available.

Grants for Improving Your Resource Efficiency provide assistance to businesses undertaking investment projects which reduce CO2 emissions.

Venture Capital and Loan funding offers a combination of loan, equity and mezzanine finance to support business growth in the region.

Our Investment Services team can provide further information regarding eligibility.

The bigger picture With a larger economy than Hong Kong, more than a million graduates and a leader in R&D, the Northwest is an ideal location for investors The Northwest sits at the centre of the UK, stretching from Cumbria in the north to Cheshire in the south, with two of the most dynamic and cultural cities in Manchester and Liverpool.

The economy is both large in size – bigger than 15 EU countries, standing at £120 billion, with 252,000 businesses – and scale; being home to many of the world’s leading R&D investors, including AstraZeneca, BAE Systems, Unilever and Rolls-Royce. Annual private sector expenditure is over £2.2 billion; placing the region ahead of many European countries.

The region has more than seven million people – almost twice the population of Ireland. In terms of skills, there is a strong tradition of advanced engineering expertise, serving specialist areas including the aerospace, automotive and chemicals industries. This is in addition to its position as a world leader in nuclear energy. The region’s experience and expertise will prove to be significant as the UK enters a new era of nuclear energy. It also provides essential skills for renewable energy and environmental technology.

More universities, more graduates A dynamic, educated, skilled workforce exists, which boasts more than a million graduates. The region is home to one of Europe’s largest concentrations of universities – 12 in total – including the University of Manchester, top 10 in Europe and top 30 in the world. There are a further 60 education colleges.

Well connected It is also one of the best connected regions in the UK, easily accessed both nationally and internationally by road, rail, sea or air.

STAY CONNECTED IN ENGLAND’S NORTHWEST

One hour flight from Paris, Amsterdam or Brussels

There are three international airports in the Northwest, flying to over 270 destinations worldwide: Liverpool John Lennon, Blackpool International and Manchester International – the UK’s largest airport outside London.

The comprehensive road infrastructure is unrivalled, boasting 70% more motorways than the national average.

The region is at the crossroads of the key North-South (M6) and East-West (M62/M56) motorway networks, providing direct access to all British major cities within four hours.

The region is equally well serviced by the rail network.

Over 39 trains per day travel the route between Manchester and central London, with journeys taking just over two hours, making this Europe’s best connected intercity route.

The line links the Northwest to London, Scotland and mainland Europe via the Channel Tunnel.

Beautiful landscape The Northwest has an enviable location in terms of standard of living. It is home to England’s largest National Park; the Lake District and three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty; at the Solway Coast in Cumbria, Arnside and Silverdale in Lancashire and the Forest of Bowland in Lancashire. There are two UNESCO World heritage sites, at Liverpool waterfront and Hadrian’s Wall, Cumbria, one heritage coast and 32 nature reserves. In fact, almost a third of the region is designated as National Park or an Area of Outstanding Beauty.

Coupled with its outstanding port facilities, superb landscape and long-standing commitment to renewable energy, these strengths make the Northwest an ideal location for investors, enabling owners, developers and suppliers to move equipment, people and plant to and from the region quickly and easily.

Less than two hours’ flight from Madrid, Copenhagen or Berlin

Two hours by train from central London

252,000 BUSINESSES 1MILLION GRADUATES £120 BILLION ECONOMY For further information about the business and investment opportunities in the region, visit englandsnorthwest.com or call our Investment Services team on +44 (0)1925 400 495.

Home to two European cultural centres – Manchester and Liverpool

Wind energy at a glance

650 MILES OF COASTLINE 150 SUPPLY CHAIN COMPANIES 5GW POTENTIAL OF IRISH SEA ZONE SHALLOW SHORES OF 5-30M 4 x 24 HOUR PORTS 3 INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS

Tel: +44 (0)1925 400 495 www.englandsnorthwest.com