The new Renewable Energy Centre has been set up in response to an increasing global demand for offshore energy which includes a UK target of 15% of energy from renewable sources by 2020. This target is equivalent to a seven-fold increase in UK renewable energy consumption from 2008 levels and will lead to those within the industry requiring more specialised equipment, and increased support with technical engineering and health and safety requirements.

The company’s services cover the initial building of wind turbines to their maintenance and servicing.

Dave Butler, General Manager of Certex’s offshore operations, is confident that the company is ideally placed to meet the needs of this burgeoning market. “The new centre builds on the success of Certex’s offshore activities and combines years of industry experience with a global infrastructure that provides the best products and services currently available.

“In addition, all of our engineers receive extensive training and are qualified to perform even the most demanding of tasks in an offshore environment. This not only gives customers complete peace of mind in the selection and performance of equipment but also assures total legal compliance in meeting health and safety requirements.”

Based in the recently opened OrbisEnergy Centre in Lowestoft, the Certex facility will be run by Jody Potter, Senior Verification/Certification Engineer, and amongst its services will offer free lifting and testing technical support together with advice at all levels to wind energy related companies in the locality.

Charles Gillespie, Sales and Marketing Director for Certex, said: “Over the next decade around £8billion will be invested along the East coast into the offshore renewable energy industry and this area is emerging as the international place of choice for large-scale offshore wind farms.

“The OrbisEnergy Centre has already attracted a wide range of companies involved in the renewable energy industry and we are excited to be part of this growing business community.”

Certex is scheduled to recruit at least six additional qualified offshore engineers to support the activities of the new Renewable Energy Centre, who will join the twenty-strong engineering team at Great Yarmouth.

The centre will also work alongside the wider Certex international wind energy division which has facilities in Denmark, Sweden, Germany and Norway.