Work well underway for £1m floating offshore wind development
It's described by the local Shared Prosperity Fund as a 'major economic and environmental opportunity'
In Falmouth, work's said to be well underway now for a £1m floating offshore wind development.
It's described by the local Shared Prosperity Fund as a major economic and environmental opportunity for the Duchy.
It'll create 30,000 square metres of dockside space - with the FLOW project described as a way to boost the production of renewable energy.
It's seen as a major economic and environmental opportunity for Cornwall - and it comes as the Crown Estate has set a target of 4.5GW of FLOW electricity-generating capacity in the Celtic Sea by 2035, which is enough to power four million homes from three proposed wind farms.
The first three wind farms alone will need more than 260 turbines, each up to 300 metres tall and mounted on a floating platform about the size of a football pitch.
They'll need 1,000 anchors to secure them to the seabed, with at least 300km of mooring lines and 900km of cables to link the turbines with the grid onshore.
Around 10,000 square metres of unused sheds have already been demolished - and improvements to 20,000 square metres of quayside space, including resurfacing, underway.
Cllr Louis Gardner, Cornwall Council portfolio holder for the economy, said: "This vital infrastructure investment is among a suite of FLOW-related projects funded by the Good Growth Programme to ensure that Cornwall is at the forefront of this economic and environmental opportunity.
"It will ensure that the Port of Falmouth remains a strategically important economic asset while boosting key sectors including renewable energy, engineering, and marine."
Drystan Jones Director Port Development, APCL Falmouth, Director, General Manager Falmouth Docks and Engineering Company; said: “Falmouth Port is a statutory harbour authority operated by Falmouth Docks and Engineering Company (FDEC).
“As such, APCL is committed to modernising the existing infrastructure to ensure the port can meet the changing demands which are placed upon it, which includes supporting the growth of floating offshore wind and growing cruise activity in Cornwall.
“This project is the first phase of a programme of modernisation, which will see investment in APCL Falmouth, which will underpin social and economic growth in Cornwall.”
You can find out more about Good Growth on their website.