The UK government has selected manufacturers Siemens Gamesa and GRI Renewable Industries to receive grant funding to develop factories in the Humber region.
Siemens Gamesa will expand its offshore blade plant in north-east England by 41,600 square metres, more than doubling the size of the manufacturing facilities. The expansion represents an investment of £186m and is planned to be completed in 2023.
Manufacturing of next-generation offshore wind turbine blades will be enabled and 200 additional direct jobs will be created, adding to the existing 1000 strong workforce.
GRI Renewable Industries is meanwhile set to build facilities at Able Marine Energy Park, North Killigholme in north Lincolnshire, with £78m investment in an offshore wind turbine tower factory, creating up to 260 direct jobs.
The Spanish company’s plan were first reported in the 6 May edition of subscriber-only reNEWS.
The funding comes from the Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Support scheme, which was announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson last year as part of his Ten Point Plan to build factories that will develop components for next generation wind turbines.
Johnson said: “The Humber region embodies the UK’s green industrial revolution, with new investment into developing the next generation of wind turbines set to create new jobs, export opportunities and clean power across the country.
“With less than a hundred days to go until the climate summit COP26, we need to see more countries embracing new technologies, building green industries and phasing out coal power for a sustainable future.”
Siemens Gamesa said manufacturing of other offshore wind turbine blade types already in the Hull factory pipeline will continue while the expansion is constructed
“Since our offshore blade factory opened in Hull in 2016, Siemens Gamesa has proudly served as the catalyst for the powerful growth the area has seen. The rapid development of the offshore wind industry – and continued, strong, long-term support provided by the UK government for offshore wind – has enabled us to power ahead with confidence when making these plans,” said Marc Becker, CEO of the Siemens Gamesa Offshore Business Unit.
Clark MacFarlane, Managing Director of Siemens Gamesa UK, added : “The UK Government has provided strong and consistent support for offshore wind, having committed to a further 30 GW installed this decade, three times the current installed capacity. This underlines the commitment the UK Government has made since the Offshore Sector Deal was unveiled in early 2019.”
GRI chief executive Jon Riberas said: “We are proud to participate in this major project to power British homes and communities with wind energy towards sustainability and carbon neutrality. This project will create a worldwide leader in the offshore sector in a market that is increasingly demanding and constantly evolving.”
Trade body RenewableUK welcomed the news.
R-UK chief executive Dan McGrail said: “These two key announcements are a massive boost for the Humber region and provide further proof that the UK’s cutting-edge offshore wind supply chain is scaling up at a terrific pace, creating job opportunities in coastal communities which need levelling up.
“This is what Boris Johnson’s Green Industrial Revolution looks like in action and the government is backing offshore wind manufacturing in the UK to the hilt.
“Today’s news comes as the UN publishes a landmark report warning that the world must ramp up the speed and scale of action against climate change as a matter of urgency.
“To achieve this, the renewable energy industry is working with the government to maximise the number of jobs in our thriving clean energy sector, including exporting our cutting-edge products and services around the world, as the UK is a global leader in clean energy technology.”