EDF Renewables UK has agreed to support Blyth RNLI for the next 20 years in connection with the Blyth Offshore Demonstrator Wind Farm.
Employees from EDF Renewables UK recently visited the Blyth RNLI Lifeboat Station to announce to the station’s management team and volunteer crew their support of the work the charity does in saving lives at sea.
The announcement comes after the energy company established their test site 5.7km off of the coast of Blyth in 2017 and met with the station’s management and volunteer crew soon after to understand the role that the station plays in the local community.
EDF Renewables UK have agreed to support Blyth RNLI Lifeboat Station with a donation of £10,000 per annum,for the next 20 years, the duration of the wind farm, for the running of their two inshore lifeboats.
Catherine Kaye, Corporate Partnerships Manager said:’As a charity we rely on donations to enable us to continue to save lives at sea. When a company such as EDF Renewables sees the work the the local station carries out and wishes to support it long term,it proves that our volunteer crew provide a vital role in the local community.’
Leanne Watson from EDF Renewables UK commented on the partnership with Blyth RNLI:’We are very happy to support such a fantastic charity which provides a vital service to anyone who needs it.The work of the team and the volunteer crews is really inspiring and we are pleased to be working so closely together.’
Barry Pearson Lifeboat Operations Manager at Blyth RNLI was delighted when the announcement was made and said;’The support of EDF Renewables UK is vital in supporting the work we do in the community and for us to continue to be able to save lives at sea.We will be working closely with the local office in the Port of Blyth.A visit is planned by the EDF Renewables Team to the lifeboat station to give a presentation on the operation and the make up of the turbines to the crew .This will then lead to us having exercises at sea so our volunteer crew can learn the operations connected with the wind turbines.’
The Blyth Offshore Demonstrator Wind Farm comprises of 5 wind turbines east of the Port of Blyth and can be seen directly from the lifeboat station.Blyth is the first offshore wind farm to use float and submerge technology. This means the wind turbines are supported with gravity-based foundations, which are transported by floating. This made it cheaper to install, since it meant the foundations didn’t have to be drilled into the seabed.
The wind farm dominates the South East Northumberland horizon where the 191.5 metre high turbines can be seen from the shoreline
Photo Credit RNLI/Adrian Don