Freeport East is committed to working with partner organisations, world leading universities and the local green-energy cluster to drive innovation. Its proximity to the wind farms of the North Sea and Thames estuary, and the existing expertise in the ports servicing renewable energy generation, make it a natural centre for the massive development of renewables in the coming decade. The presence of new nuclear power stations at Sizewell and Bradwell will help the Freeport to become a centre of technical excellence for the wider energy industry and support technological innovation that can be exported around the world.

Energy from local offshore wind and new nuclear sources will drive the development of a Green Hydrogen Hub in the Freeport utilising the existing mass of road, rail, and maritime freight movements at the ports to deploy an effective and influential hydrogen programme for uses across the freight sector. To drive this innovation, we will work with the Universities of Cambridge, Birmingham, Cranfield, Essex, and Suffolk harnessing their expertise to make the Green Hydrogen Hub of global significance.

Freeport East Harwich, with its proximity to many of the Government’s designated offshore wind farm sites, will attract national and international manufacturers and developers for offshore wind turbines.

Beyond the energy sector, Freeport East will also contribute to wider innovation in the technology sector. Hutchison Ports is already working with Cambridge University and Three UK to develop innovative 5G applications. Hutchison Ports is also working with the New Anglia LEP, Tech East and BT’s research centre at Adastral Park on new telecommunications infrastructure. Freeport East will embed these technological innovations at its heart and help to make the UK a world leader in technological innovation.