Port of Blyth is stepping up its journey to net zero on the back of a trio of funding deals totalling £12m.
The Northumberland offshore energy port is installing a host of clean energy measures with the Lloyds Bank funding, starting with the addition of a new electric crane to its fleet, to increase its capacity capabilities and reduce emissions. The Port has invested in a Konecranes Gottwald ESP.6 Mobile Harbour Crane, which has a 125-tonne lift capacity and eliminates carbon emissions.
Energy from braking and lowering movements by the crane can also be recycled for other crane functions or fed back to the harbour mains. The new crane forms part of the port’s strategy to become as energy efficient as possible, by decarbonising all equipment including forklift trucks and cranes.
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Its low-carbon strategy began in 2019, after initially receiving £7.5m of funding from Lloyds Bank. This was used to construct new terminal infrastructure and additional warehousing while creating numerous employment opportunities. To continue its plans for growth, the port secured a further £2m of funding from Lloyds Bank this year, on top of a £2.4m facility secured from Lloyds Asset Finance, which has enabled the firm to purchase the new electric crane.
Directors said the port is now committed to introducing additional clean energy measures including solar power PV panels across the site, while also exploring the use of alternative marine fuels and mine water heating to reduce its carbon footprint. It will also soon launch its ‘Clean Energy’ terminal following a major redevelopment scheme to create a heavy load out quay, new roads and hardstanding, a heavy-lift electric crane and warehouse upgrades.
Oran Robson, finance director of Port of Blyth, said: “This latest investment marks our next step towards a greener future. By introducing more energy-efficient ways of working, we’re able to continually diversify our business and create new employment opportunities across the region.
"Thanks to ongoing support from Lloyds Bank, we’ve been able to make the changes necessary to continue attracting new investment and remain resilient. We look forward to providing more exciting opportunities for decades to come for both existing and future clients and do our bit on the road to Net Zero.”
Hannah Douglass, relationship director at Lloyds Bank, said: “The North East’s green economy already supports an estimated 14% of all UK jobs in the sector and is a huge driver for future innovation.
“Businesses like Port of Blyth are seeing the benefits first-hand of introducing sustainable measures. Not only can it help a business to capitalise on new growth opportunities, but it is also helping the region and wider economy reduce its impact on the planet.
“We’ve worked with Port of Blyth for more than a hundred years. Its rapid expansion and efforts to help reduce the North East’s carbon footprint is brilliant and shows the importance of sustainability. We’ll continue investing in firms like this and provide the support needed for them to capitalise on the opportunities being created through greener ways of working.”
