Projekt Renewable is ready for take-off in Grimsby.
Planning permission has been granted for the green energy exploratorium which is set to showcase the area’s new economic tale to the next generation. The box park scheme will sit beside the icon of bygone days, Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre, with work set to start within weeks.
Backing the ambitious plan to inspire, educate and entertain are Myenergi, RWE Renewables UK, North East Lincolnshire Council and seabed steward The Crown Estate - responsible for the leasing of the ‘prime real estate’ off the region’s coastline, which has brought the concentration of offshore wind to the town. They are joined by leading professional service firms Forrester Boyd and Wilkin Chapman, as well as North East Lincolnshire Council, Knapton Wright, Docks Academy and Mockingbird street food.
Read more: Partners can't contain excitement over Projekt Renewables - reaction from stakeholders
Those behind Projekt Renewable describe it as a ground-breaking scheme that promises not only to “celebrate the opportunities presented by sustainable energy production in the area and be a catalyst for the green economic regeneration of the town”, but also to bridge the gap between industry and community with a summer offering for everyone to enjoy.
A pop-up style programme of events is proposed to ensure it is the centre of attention during the coastal high season.
Thanking all involved and “instrumental in getting it off the ground,” with head of project management at North East Lincolnshire Council, Richard Dowson singled out, Projekt’s director, Richard Askam, said: “It’s taken two years of hard work to get to this stage and now, over the next weeks, we’ll bring phase one of Projekt Renewable to life. Designed to allow everyone to see and hear the opportunity that already exists in our area but is still largely hidden. It’s time to write the next chapter in Grimsby’s history, and that is as a world leader in renewable energy.”
A leading container architecture design and production company, WhiteCrate, is to deliver the infrastructure. It is behind the Liverpool FC Fan Park, innovative markets in Altrincham and Wolverhampton, and Hatch in Manchester.
NELC leader, Cllr Philip Jackson, said: “On behalf of everyone at the council, I would like to thank all the individuals and partners who have had the vision and determination to make Projekt Renewable a reality. The success of our young people will define North East Lincolnshire’s future and we need them to see the opportunities that are on their doorsteps and be inspired to take those opportunities. Projekt Renewable will do just that.”
Emerging careers will be brought to life with immersive experiences. Virtual reality and hands-on demonstrations of roles available in the Energy Estuary will be housed in the set-up, which will also include workspaces for local businesses and creatives, with plans to generate relevant and exciting content to showcase the opportunities too.
The collective vision is for Projekt Renewable to gain national significance, with the ability to beam into primary and secondary schools and further and higher education establishments up and down the country.
