Latest offshore technology to be tested on former coal site

The new ORE Catapult demonstrator project will be built over the former Blyth power station Northumberland, northern England, as part of a £30 million energy park, dubbed Energy Central.

Run by ORE Catapult, the project will host one large prototype turbine at a time in the hope it will attract the sector’s leading equipment manufacturers to test innovations at the component level. ORE Catapult currently operates and owns the 7MW Levenmouth Demonstration Turbine in Fife, Scotland.

Tony Quinn, test facilities director for ORE Catapult said the development would put Northumberland on the map as an international leader in bringing to market next-generation offshore wind turbine technology.

“A prototype site builds on the unique cluster of offshore renewable energy expertise, innovation and skills already present within Energy Central, making us an even stronger proposition to attract overseas investment to the North East and further support the UK’s world-leading status in offshore wind.”

A building application is expected to be submitted later this year. If permission is granted, the first turbine could be installed for testing in 2022.