ORE Catapult has welcomed the news of GE Renewable Energy’s investment in a new blade factory in Teesside, north-east England.
The factory, which will make blades for Haliade-X units, will directly create around 750 jobs at the Teesworks site on the River Tees as well as 1500 indirect roles.
It will open and start production in 2023, supplying blades to SSE Renewables and Equinor’s Dogger Bank offshore wind farm, as reported exclusively in last week’s subscriber-only edition of reNEWS.
ORE Catapult chief executive Andrew Jamieson said: “We’re justifiably proud of the strong partnership that we have built with both GE Renewable Energy and LM Wind Power over recent years, directly supporting the rapid delivery of their ground-breaking Haliade-X turbine and bringing UK innovation, research and development to the forefront of global offshore wind technology development.
“The new jobs announced today are a huge boost to the North East of England and the whole UK supply chain as we look to accelerate a green economic recovery on our path towards net zero.”
The UK government said designating Teesside as a free port and awarding up to £20m in government funding to the Teesworks project were key to the US manufacturer taking the decision. Around 3000 “high quality jobs” are expected in total at the location.
GE said terms of the construction and financing of the new plant are in advanced stages of negotiation between the interested parties.
GE Renewable Energy chief executive Jerôme Pécresse said: “This new plant will contribute to the development of an industrial cluster dedicated to offshore wind in the North East of England.
“GE is delighted to be able to help build a talent pool dedicated to renewable energy in a region with such potential. The UK’s target to commission 40 GW of offshore wind by 2030 is ambitious and requires that we invest in the local production capabilities to accompany this effort.”
SSE Renewables said the site would provide a “substantial number” of Haliade-X blades for Dogger Bank that will be installed from 2024 onwards with the final number of components to be confirmed in due course.
Dogger Bank project director Steve Wilson said: ”Through our turbine supply order with GE, the Dogger Bank project is the catalyst for this important GE investment in Teesside, harnessing skills and expertise in the local area and delivering long-term benefits in the UK’s offshore wind sector.”
George Rafferty, chief executive of NOF, a north-east-based energy trade body, said the investment is a “clear signal” of what the Freeport strategy can do for the UK energy sector and the potential it will bring for the local supply chain, which is well-placed through its experience and expertise to support GE Renewable Energy on Teesside.
Renewables UK chief executive Hugh McNeal added the agreement marks the start of the next generation of offshore wind manufacturing.
“GE Renewable Energy’s new blade turbine manufacturing plant will transform a former steelworks site on Teesside into a high-tech clean energy powerhouse, creating thousands of highly-skilled jobs in our UK supply chain.”
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen meanwhile said the deal with GE is “monumental”
“To bring their manufacturing facility to Teesside and [create] more than 2000 local jobs is a major step forward for my plan to bring skilled good-quality jobs to local people,” he said.
“Just last week our plans to regenerate the Teesworks site were turbocharged when the Chancellor gave the green light to the Teesside Freeport – the UK’s biggest freeport.”