I’ve been working in construction project management for over 20 years, and a lot has changed in that time. New technology, procedures and regulations have emerged, but few things have had as big an impact on construction as sustainability. This shift is arguably most evident in the recent renewable energy investment at the Humber Estuary. 

Where is the Humber Estuary?

The Humber Estuary is located on the east coast of Northern England, helping to form the boundary between the East Riding of Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire. It is fed by the the following rivers:

 – River Ouse

 – River Don

 – River Trent

 – River Hull

 – River Aire

The UK’s second-largest coastal plain estuary sees an average of 40,000 ship movements per year, handling 14% of the UK’s international trade.

The evolution of the Humber Estuary

An estuary is the tidal mouth of a river or stream that meets the sea. The Humber Estuary is a result of natural and man-made developments, including the amalgamation of multiple rivers breaking through the chalk wolds, as well as rising sea levels causing specific sections to sink into the ocean.

Man-made introductions include a lighthouse, lifeboat station, bird sanctuary and the famous Humber Bridge. An impressive feat of construction and engineering, the Humber Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world when it was first built, spanning 1,480 metres.

The first plans for the Humber Bridge were unveiled in the late 1930s, with the aim of increasing unified economic development between both sides of the River Humber. The Humber Bridge Act was passed in 1959, but construction did not begin until 1972. The project took eight years to complete, and Her Majesty the Queen formally opened the Bridge in 1981. This meant that the Humber Estuary was no longer a barrier to trade and development.

Renewable Energy & the Humber

Hull is “fast becoming the UK’s leader in renewable energy,” reports Invest Hull. The area is on its way to becoming world-renowned for its off-shore wind power, with four in five North Sea wind zones within 12 hours of sailing time.

The Humber generates nearly 20% of the country’s electricity, along with a third of its refined fuel and 20% of its natural gas imports. This has led people to refer to Hull as the UK’s “Energy Estuary”.

Local investment in renewable energy

There has been plenty of investment towards renewable energy in the Hull area, including:

• Energy Works, Hull, was given a £20 million grant from the European Regional Development Fund.
• Spencer Group’s £200 million energy-from-waste (EFW) plant; the largest in the UK.
• Green Port Hull’s continuous efforts to “establish Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire as a world class centre for renewable energy”.
• Supply chain investment from 3Sun Group, TRG Wind, GEV Offshore and more.

When it comes to the Humber, the outlook is bright and the future is green. 

Siemens and the Humber

Hull is home to the Siemens Gamesa wind turbine blade factory, which is set to double in size thanks to a £186 million upgrade, following the latest government announcements.

The £310 million plant has manufactured over 1,500 offshore wind turbine blades since 2016, employing roughly 1,000 people. It recently received a contract from renewables firm Orsted to supply turbines for two huge offshore wind farms. 

Renewable energy over the last 20 years

Increased technological developments and damning research surrounding climate change have catapulted renewable energy to becoming the key focal points across many sectors.

While the use of fossil fuels has declined in recent years, the likes of wind turbines, solar panels and hydro power dams have vastly increased. The first ever multi-megawatt wind turbine was constructed in 1978. Since then, it has become the world’s most-used renewable energy source.

Wind power surpassed coal in 2016 and nuclear power in 2018. It now contributes to roughly one quarter of the UK’s electricity. The UK is also set to double its solar capacity by 2030. 

In 2019, the UK announced it generated more electricity from zero-carbon, renewable sources than it did from fossil fuels. In 2020, Prime Minister Boris Johnson declared plans to power every home in the UK using wind power by 2030. 

Click here to discover the Government’s intentions to make the UK a world leader in green energyOuse