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Wednesday, October 12, 2011 IN ASSOCIATION WITH
the big feature
LIVERPOOL’S INVESTMENT SPECIALISTS
ow carbon future
TMP wants Merseyside to become a world leader in wind power
Region could serve world’s next-generation wind farms
very important milestone here, but we are going to be very much keeping that collaborative push going so industry realises this is the start of our ambition. “We could look at making all the components here, instead of barging them from Europe. “The prizes for us is getting as much here as we possibly can. We are hoping this will send ripples around the industry that someone like RWE has committed to Liverpool. “They have not done that lightly, because it is a very significant investment. The next step is working with the big players and their supply chains to roll out more.” Mr Knowles said there are 140 supply chain businesses currently involved in the offshore wind farm industry, but he added: “A lot of local companies haven’t realised what is at stake here, yet.” He said the region can benefit hugely from the lucrative supply chain and ongoing post-development maintenance opportunities that wind farms can present. “The spectrum of businesses who can get involved in this sector range from
people sitting behind computer screens to people in overalls.” He highlighted, in particular, two hi-tech Merseyside firms in Birkenhead-based marine oceanography expert Osiris Projects and Enspec, in St Helens, which specialises in harmonics related to electrical cabling, which is essential to transmit energy ashore. These companies and more traditional engineering and manufacturing firms are all capable of deriving huge rewards from Merseyside’s role as a support port for the industry, creating a second tier of opportunities from round three developments. And TMP and its partners, such as its private sector members and the six Merseyside local authorities, are convinced that the region can offer the best incentives for future wind farm schemes, and beyond. Mr Basnett said: “What we will do with suppliers is support them, find the right premises, or sort out planning and property and finance issues. “There are a also opportunities for businesses who could diversify into this area.”
‘A lot of firms not realising what is at stake’
NOT only has the region managed to make up ground in fighting its corner for a slice of the low carbon future, it could become a world-leading player in the development of the next generation of offshore wind farms. Mark Knowles believes that round three schemes could be followed by round four sites that would push technological boundaries – and Merseyside could seize a major stake in taking the industry forward. He said the depth to the seabed currently decides wind farm zones. “The deepest is 72 metres, but after that there could be floating devices,” he added. He said the offshore wind farm industry is likely to follow the oil and gas industry, which moved from seabed anchored rigs to floating platforms to extend the boundaries of developments farther from shore. And, given the region’s growing status in the industry and its bid to participate in Centrica’s round three scheme near the Isle of Man, it could position itself as a world leader in
supporting and developing such schemes. He said: “We will have a level of expertise that no one else does. This is market-leading technology, because no-one has gone so deep before.” Outlining possible areas of development, Mark Basnett said: “In 10 or 15 years, are there going to be more efficient turbines to generate more power? “As a base port, we can service and support that. “The UK is going to be leading the market in offshore, so companies here can serve the rest of the world or Europe. “This is a real opportunity for UK plc to develop expertise to serve the industry. We can service the world from Liverpool. “The prize is to use the fact that we are the centre of this industry for the next 10 years, to really embed the capabilities to service the wider UK, Europe and beyond.” And he said that could also involve a support network to encourage leading European practitioners in the industry to set up a Merseyside base.
private business
Sparkling sales give bounce to Ball CAN manufacturer Ball Packaging Europe saw sales and profits rise in 2010 as the soft drinks sector continues to grow. Accounts newly filed at Companies House show Ball reported a turnover of £303m in 2010 – up 4.5% from £290m in 2009. Pre-tax profit stood at £38m, up 11.8% from £34m the previous year. The UK operation makes cans in Wrexham and Rugby, and can ends at Deeside Industrial Park, and has a sales office at its UK headquarters at Chester Business Park. It said: “Trade turnover was up by 6% and trade can sales volumes were up by 8%. The majority of this additional turnover and volume growth was derived from the growing soft drinks sector. “A lower level of growth in the European marketplace this year, compared to the previous year, resulted in fairly flat inter-company sales. Inter-company volume growth was only up by 2%, and inter-company turnover was up by 1% from 2009. “Operating profit was up by £2m from the previous year (£38m in 2010 compared to £36m in 2009), largely attributable to the aforementioned increase in trade turnover. “The cost base of the company, while still challenging, has been stabilised to some extent by the adoption of some currency financial instruments.” Two-thirds of Ball’s sales come from within the UK. It said: “The UK beverage can business has undergone a period of moderate growth during the past few years. This is expected to continue and be led primarily by the growth in soft drinks sales.” Total shareholders’ funds at the end of the year stood at £93m – up from £68m, in 2009. The company paid out a dividend of £2.8m.
ALISTAIR HOUGHTON