The Lowestoft Eastern Energy Facility (LEEF) is a £35mn state[1]of-the-art redevelopment project in the Outer Harbour at ABP’s Port of Lowestoft. Opened by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband, in January 2025, LEEF is strategically positioned to support the offshore energy industry in the southern North Sea and specifically Lowestoft’s position as an onshore hub for offshore energy.
Designed to meet the growing demands of the offshore energy industry, the facility boasts 345 metres of quayside, with deep[1]water berths capable of accommodating a wide range of vessels. Further it offers up to 8 acres (3.23 ha) of operational and storage space for a range of purposes including covered and open storage, marshalling and equipment laydown.
The facility also includes berths for six crew transfer vessels (CTV), each equipped with essential utilities such as water, power and fuel. The facility’s infrastructure is future proofed to support alternative fuels and shore power, aligning with ABP’s commitment to sustainable operations.
Construction
ABP contracted the construction firm McLaughlin & Harvey (McL&H) to build the facility and were officially deployed on site in September 2023. The project was built rapidly, within budget and to high standards of health and safety. Examples of these novel approaches include:
- An artificial-intelligence based safety system that identifies people in danger zones near moving plant and machinery;
- A unique two-stage design and build contract, which ensured high-quality design before the rapid construction phase; and
- A tendering process that placed 15% of the budget with local suppliers.
The construction stage of this project also had a reduced environmental impact. The demolition works reused about 2,300 m³ of material, saving 34.51 metric tonnes of CO2e on this operation alone. That is equal to 230 lorry loads of waste that ultimately would have ended up in landfill. Furthermore, about 300 steel tube piles were transported by sea directly to the site, saving 100 lorry journeys by road.
Enabling the energy transition
The site was previously used to produce top-sides for oil and gas platforms. The upgraded infrastructure means that the site can play a pivotal role in the energy transition. It can support operations and maintenance (O&M) activities for renewable energy projects. It can also be used on national infrastructure projects such as Sizewell C nuclear plant.
LEEF is a major economic asset for the local area, employing around 344 people directly and supporting 494 jobs in the wider economy. The jobs created through this project provide decent work in a growing industry.
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