The Region of West Cumbria has been identified as being of strategic national importance in the overall plan for developing a sustainable, secure future for power generation in the UK. To this end the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) identified this part of the region as Britain’s Energy Coast TM and produced a £2 billion master plan outlining a series of projects which will build upon the existing assets and expertise of the Region to help fulfil this national role and at the same time bring additional benefits to the wider community. While the core activities of the Region are identified as being within the nuclear sector; generation, fuel and waste processing and storage, the plan recognised the need to develop alternative energy sources which can take advantage of the natural resources of the Region, principally wind and tidal power generation systems.
The Region is already home to a number of windfarms including the BOWind offshore facility comprising 30 turbines generating 90MW of electricity and Walney 1 & 2 with 51 turbines each providing a total capacity of 367.2MW, (both schemes constructed by DONG Energy). As pressure grows to provide our energy needs in a more environmentally sustainable manner, further offshore initiatives along these lines will undoubtedly come to the fore. Port Millom is ideally located to service the East Irish Sea basin and the coastal plain and the facility’s potential development land of around 10 Ha offers ample scope for the handling and storage of large turbine structures such as those in place at the BOWind and Waney projects and for the storage and transportation of scour rock armour used in the foundations of these turbines.
Onshore wind farm developments include the proposed Langthwaite Wind Farm only 2.5 miles from Port Millom and the HMP Havreigg Wind Energy Project, 4 miles away. More about both these schemes can found on our Projects page.
The region is also an important centre for the UK nuclear industry. Sellafield Ltd, among other roles, undertakes decommissioning, power and waste management services on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), the organisation responsible for developing and implementing the UK’s nuclear decommissioning strategy. Both businesses have facilities to the north of Port Millom.
Britain’s Energy Coast TM - a Masterplan for West Cumbria
For information regarding Port Millom as a ship-breaking facility please click here
Port of Millom, Borwick Rails, Millom, Cumbria, LA18 4JU 01229 771788
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