130 jobs to be created in wind energy industry in Great Yarmouth
Green energy firm Vattenfall is setting up a new maintenance base in the town
Around 130 new jobs are being created in the wind energy industry in Great Yarmouth.
Green energy firm Vattenfall has chosen the town as a local for a new 'operations and maintenance base' for wind farms in the North Sea.
Recruitment will start in 2026, with the process set to last around two years.
Vattenfall says its already working with local schools and colleges to encourage young people to seek a career in green energy.
The jobs will be case at the £21m O&M Campus which is being built on the South Denes Peninsula.
Rob Anderson, Project Director of Vattenfall’s Norfolk Zone, said: “We’re really pleased to be working with Peel Ports who’ll be providing us with a home for our Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone."
"It should be a great economic boost for the area with around 130 long-term jobs helping to manage the Wind Zone, one of the world’s largest.
“All we need now is for government to play its part by providing a financial framework that gives us the certainty we need to invest so that local people can start seeing the benefits.”
Councillor Carl Smith, leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said: ‘’Great Yarmouth Borough Council is delighted that Vattenfall has chosen the town’s port as the preferred location for its offshore wind zone Operations and Maintenance base."
"We have worked hard to support our partners, Peel Ports – which runs the port in Great Yarmouth – to provide a compelling case as to why the port and wider South Denes offshore energy zone provides the ideal location for Vattenfall.
“This Operations and Maintenance base has the potential to play a key role in delivering our forward thinking regeneration strategy for the town, its residents and businesses.
"It will deliver new, highly skilled jobs for the offshore wind sector as renewables continue to play an ever increasingly important role in the energy mix and the economic development of the UK.
‘’Great Yarmouth is uniquely placed to be able to meet the requirements of the sector with its close proximity to the southern North Sea and this announcement is excellent news for the town.’’