ABP Humber ports wind turbine plans take shape – with heights that could rival the Humber Bridge

Associated British Ports (ABP) plans for huge onshore wind turbines at Humber ports have taken further shape, as the first planning applications have been published.

A 149.9m wind turbine at Immingham port within North Lincolnshire Council area has been applied for, as has a 125m turbine in Hull. It is part of plans for five wind turbines over 120 metres tall, spread out across ABP‘s Humber ports, with two at the Port of Hull.

The scheme is part of attracting new businesses into the ports, said an ABP spokesperson, and electricity generated will directly feed into the port.

The initial intention for four turbines at Grimsby Docks was revised to one by ABP after a detailed review of all aspects of the project. The revised onshore wind turbines scheme now consists of:

• Hull – two turbines, one in Hull City Council area of 125m to tip height, and the other in East Riding and at 149.9m to tip height.
• Grimsby – one 125m to tip height turbine.
• Immingham – Two turbines of 149.9m height to tip, one in North Lincolnshire Council area, the other in North East Lincolnshire.
• “ABP would like to install onshore wind at the ports to help existing businesses located there, and hopefully help attract new businesses,” said the ABP spokesperson. “It will help control the cost of electricity, which for UK industrials is consistently amongst the highest when comparing with the EU27 using government’s own data, and has been very volatile. It will also directly help to decarbonise electricity supply at the port, which is increasingly a factor for existing and potential new customers.”
• “The electricity from the turbines would directly feed into the port electricity grid primarily for the benefit of the port; these are very different developments to greenfield projects feeding into a local grid without direct benefit for local industry.” The proposed turbine sites are areas with minimal or low operational impact, chosen to preserve the opportunity to attract business growth and jobs to the ports.
• There will also be a fund to support community initiatives, linked to the level of electricity generated. “ABP intends there to be a community fund for each operational turbine of £5,000 per MW installed per year (circa £12,000/year for the smaller 125m turbines and £21,000/year for the larger 150m ones).”
• ABP currently envision administering meetings with local community representatives, including possibly councillors, to discuss applications and decide which should receive funding.