Dong to set up UK hub at AMEP

UK: Dong Energy has signed a memorandum of understanding with port operator Able UK to use the Able Marine Energy Park, on the River Humber, north-east UK.

Able Marine Energy Park will cover 3.2 square kilometres

Able UK said the deal could see the developer set up a construction and installation hub at the park.

Dong's head of strategic supply chain, Joachim Steenstrup, said: "Able Marine Park is very close to what you would come up with if you had to do a painting of the optimal cluster for the renewables industry on a blank canvas; close to the sea, with abundant quayside and adjoining land to manufacture, assemble and store goods."

Steenstrup added he believed the port could become a "sizeable hub with multiple suppliers".

The Able Marine Energy Park is still in early development, having been caught up in a legal battle with Associated British Ports (ABP).

ABP had owned some of the land on the proposed site. Developer Able UK had submitted a Development Consent Order, which included a compulsory purchase of the land that ABP had earmarked for development.

A special and the backed Able UK's application for the £450 million park, allowing it to go ahead. ABP ended its legal challenge in . 

The 3.2-square-kilometre quay, on the banks of the River Humber, will be available to offshore wind developers for storage, assembly and installation purposes.

Able UK has said the site could deliver as many as 4,000 jobs and is expected have quays available to the offshore sector from 2018.

In December 2013, Austrian construction company Strabag named Able Marine Energy Park (AMEP) as its to build its gravity-based foundations for offshore wind. 

The port is located on the opposite side of the Humber River to Siemens' Green Port Hull facility, currently under construction.