The world's biggest offshore wind farm has signed a lease agreement for up to 300,000 square metres of port space in the North East.
The area, at Steel River Quay on the Teesworks site, will support construction of Ørsted’s Hornsea 3 wind farm by storing and shipping key components such as monopile foundations and secondary steel.
The agreement has been hailed as marking a significant step forward for Teesside’s role in the UK’s offshore wind sector.
Michael Shanks, energy minister, said: "Our mission to become a clean energy superpower is focused on attracting investment for local communities, creating new jobs, and ensuring energy security for families and businesses.
"This partnership delivers on that promise – Hornsea 3 will drive growth throughout Teesside and help rebuild Britain’s industrial heartlands as part of our Plan for Change."
Jason Ledden, senior project director for Hornsea 3, said: "Ørsted’s choice of Steel River Quay at Teesworks for Hornsea 3 demonstrates our continued commitment to investing in British infrastructure, growth, and jobs.
"The port is the first in the UK to be specifically designed for the offshore wind industry, and we’re proud to be its first large-scale users.
"Offshore wind is not only generating clean, plentiful energy – it’s bringing economic benefits to communities all around the UK."
The leased space will be used to store and load components before they are transported to the wind farm site.
Each monopile foundation can weigh more than 2,300 tonnes.
Steel River Quay began full operations in the third quarter of 2024.
Ally Cameron, managing director at Steel River Quay, said: "This is a landmark moment for Steel River Quay and the wider Teesworks site.
"To welcome Ørsted’s Hornsea 3 project as our first large-scale offshore wind base is a huge vote of confidence in the infrastructure, location, and capability we’ve built here.
"This partnership will not only deliver clean energy infrastructure for the UK but also drive jobs, investment, and opportunity for our region."
Chris Musgrave OBE, chairman of Teesworks Ltd, said: "Today’s announcement is a significant milestone for Teesworks and for the Tees Valley.
"Ørsted’s decision to base such a critical part of Hornsea 3’s construction at Steel River Quay underlines the site’s strategic importance and the world-class industrial platform we’ve created here.
"This is exactly the kind of transformational project we envisaged when we began regenerating this site – bringing new industries, new opportunities, and a new future to the banks of the Tees."
Steel River Quay was designed specifically to support the offshore wind sector and is located close to the Hornsea 3 project.
The site is also home to two of Hornsea 3’s contract partners: Severfield, which will supply secondary steel structures, and SeAH, a supplier of monopiles.
Cadeler will supply vessels from the quay, with Mammoet handling heavy lifting operations.
John Barnes, chief executive of the South Tees Development Corporation, said: "This agreement is a clear example of how sustained public and private collaboration is unlocking new industries on Teesside.
"From day one, our ambition for Teesworks has been to deliver nationally significant projects that secure skilled jobs, attract global investment, and place our region at the forefront of the UK’s green industrial future.
"Ørsted’s commitment to Steel River Quay brings that ambition to life – and marks a decisive step in transforming Teesworks into a thriving hub for offshore wind."
The South Tees Development Corporation is working alongside private sector partners to regenerate the 4,500-acre Teesworks site, aiming to attract billions of pounds of investment and create thousands of skilled jobs.
