E.ON reaches landmark achievement as Humber Gateway is fully energised

The 219MW project located 8km off the Holderness coast, generated electricity for the first time in February and the final turbine was installed in April. When complete it will provide enough electricity for around 170,000 homes⁽¹⁾ - equivalent to around one and a half times the size of Hull⁽²⁾.

Matthew Swanwick, Humber Gateway Project Manager at E.ON, said: "This is the last stage of the major construction phase and the culmination of more than 3 years' offshore construction work which began in early 2012 starting with work at the onshore substation. Reaching this milestone two months early is immensely satisfying for the project team and something which we are all very proud of.

"Throughout construction we've had to overcome more than our fair share of challenges, including particularly difficult weather conditions, which the team rose to and successfully overcome. We still have some secondary works to complete but I'd like to thank everyone involved in the success achieved so far."

The construction phase alone has helped bring significant investment to the area and has created a number of local jobs. E.ON invested £4m in transforming a neglected derelict site at Grimsby Fish Docks into the wind farm's Operations and Maintenance base and in improving the surrounding quayside for our vessels.

Melanie Onn, Labour MP for Great Grimsby, said: "Wind and other renewable energy is where the future lies for Grimsby, and the Humber Gateway project has already provided permanent jobs for local people, as well as work for local contractors. Offshore wind is a crucial part of the UK energy supply, helping us to secure a home-grown energy future and providing clean power to homes and businesses in Grimsby and beyond. I look forward to working with E.ON on reaching out to young people in the constituency to link renewable jobs to local training and skills."

Martin Vickers, Conservative MP for Cleethorpes, said: "I welcome the news that the Humber Gateway Offshore Wind Farm is soon to be fully operational - ahead of schedule. E.ON's investment on the site of the former Grimsby Fish Dock has been a major contributor to the regeneration of the Dock Estate and is one of the many investments in the off-shore sector that is proving to be the renaissance of the local economy, providing a wide-range of jobs."   

The Humber Gateway Offshore Wind Farm is one of several major renewable energy sites in E.ON's portfolio which includes, London Array, the world's largest offshore wind farm, Blackburn Meadows Biomass Plant, due to officially open in Sheffield in the coming months and the Rampion Offshore Wind Farm to be situated off the Sussex coast for which construction is due to commence this month.

Humber Gateway further highlights E.ON's continued commitment and ongoing investment in low-carbon generation, as well as Britain's energy infrastructure as a whole.