Clarksons To Support RWE’s Vanguard West, Vanguard East From ABP’s New Lowestoft Facility
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.
This is the sub-heading.
Clarksons Port Services has signed an agreement with RWE and Associated British Ports (ABP) for RWE’s Vanguard West and Vanguard East offshore wind projects in the UK.
These three paragraphs add more detail to the story.
Under the agreement, the company will support the construction of the two offshore wind farms from the Lowestoft Eastern Energy Facility (LEEF), where Clarksons will lease and operate a facility on behalf of RWE.
ABP officially opened the new port facility in January 2025, after investing GBP 35 million (around EUR 40 million) in the port infrastructure. The facility features deep-water berths, modern utilities and future-proofed infrastructure to support shore power and alternative fuels, according to the port operator.
RWE secured Contracts for Difference (CfDs) for the two offshore wind farms in January this year, when the UK government awarded 8.4 GW of offshore wind capacity in the seventh CfD round (AR7).
Vanguard West and Vanguard East offshore wind projects are almost identical 1545 MW projects, that should be commissioned in 2028/29.
The two projects are 47 km. off the coast of Norfolk.
They will bring their power ashore at Happisburgh and connect underground to the grid at a new substation at Necton.
If I was a Norfolk Nimby, I would feel, that RWE are building these wind farms so as not to annoy the neighbours.
- They are a fair way out to sea.
- There appear to be no overhead cables.
- The support will be handled in a purpose-built facility.
Judding by their actions, I do wonder if RWE are getting a shift on, as they would like to get these wind farms built before the 2029 General Election
How Green Are The Valley Lines?
This news item from Transport for Wales is entitled 100% Electrification Of The Core Valley Lines Complete.
This is the sub-heading.
Transport for Wales has completed the full electrification of the Core Valley lines, at the heart of the South Wales Metro, delivering one of Wales’ most ambitious rail infrastructure transport projects.
These two paragraphs describe the current status.
Dubbed the ‘Welsh Tube’, the £1bn project brought electric tri-mode trains to the South Wales Valleys for the very first time in 2024. This spring, TfW will introduce the first of its 36 fully electric Class 398 tram-trains. The new fleet will initially operate between Pontypridd and Cardiff Bay, providing greener, more frequent services as part of the South Wales Metro.
Passengers are already benefitting from these improvements with the Core Valley lines being one of the most punctual and reliable networks in Great Britain over the past 6 months.
This OpenRailwayMap shows the electrification in the Cardiff area.
Note.
- Red tracks are electrified.
- Black tracks are not electrified.
- Cardiff station is indicated by the blue arrow.
- The black track going West from Cardiff is the South Wales Main Line to Llantrisant, Bridgend, Port Talbot and Swansea.
- The red track going East from Cardiff is the South Wales Main Line to Newport, the Severn Tunnel, Bristol Parkway, Reading and London.
- The lines going North up the valleys are from the West to Maesteg, Treorchy, Aberdare, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhymney and Ebbw Vale.
- The most Easterly line is the Newport and Hereford Line.
I will now look at some of the electrification.
Caerphilly Station
Caerphilly statition is on the Rhymney Line.
In June 2018, I wrote Caerphilly Station and took these pictures of the station.
At the time, I considered it a difficult station to electrify.
The Anonymous Widower 