Offshore Energy groups sign up for an east coast energy powerhouse
THMA sign up for an east coast energy powerhouse
THMA and the East of England Energy Group (EEEGR) are joining forces to help members gain maximum advantage of huge opportunities as North Sea wind energy development continues to gather force.
The two energy sector trade bodies with a combined membership of more than 500 companies, mainly operating in the marine & offshore energy sector, confirmed a ‘memorandum of cooperation’ in Amsterdam on Monday (July 2) during talks on the wider offshore energy picture.
Mark O’Reilly, Team Humber chief executive, and EEEGR chief executive Simon Gray signed the agreement, which aims to develop and sustain links between the two organisations and make them a more effective voice for UK energy and maritime business interests along the east coast of England.
Mr 0’Reilly said the focus would be on the central and southern North Sea, from the Dutch coast to England, and that the agreement was likely to mark the start of further cooperation within the sector.
“The extent of existing wind farms, those under development and areas designated for future wind farms is truly exciting and shows how quickly our energy future is being transformed,” he said.
“Billions are continuing to be invested and it bodes well for maritime companies into the long-term future. Or member companies have a huge range of skills covering the length of the supply chain.
Mr Gray said: “The very large scale of many projects puts them out of reach of most businesses on their own, but by pooling resources we can provide all the necessary experience and support.
“We hope our agreement with Team Humber will put many more companies in the frame. Together, we have a huge amount of knowledge and know what it’s like to tackle the industry’s major jobs.”
The memorandum of cooperation also covers offshore oil and gas and business particularly as we see renewed interest in the CNS/SNS gas basin as a lower carbon, interim fuel for electricity generation as new ‘tight gas’ fields are currently under development on the east coast.
Team Humber, whose HQ is at Hessle, near Hull, has built a wide network over the last few years after signing agreements for cooperation with offshoreenergy.dk. Mersey Maritime,
New Bedford (Massachusetts), the Business Network for Offshore Wind in Maryland and Virginia Offshore Wind. It is also works closely with Green Port Hull and the University of Hull AURA Innovation Centre, an organisation working with industry and academia in the East and North EEEGR, based at Great Yarmouth, started out in 2001 committed to the sustainable development of the energy industry. EEEGR have MOU’s and agreements with Virginia in the USA and in the UK with Oil and Gas UK and the OGA. Their ‘Skills for Energy’ programme seeks to ensure the industry has the workforce fit for the future opportunities the sector has to offer. EEEGR hosts 4 Special Interest Groups (SIG’s) including an Offshore Wind SIG.
Team Humber began in Hull in 1995. Both organisations are their region’s foremost brand for marine, offshore and associated energy sectors.
Further information etc
www.eeegr.com www.thma.com