Siemens Gamesa and Haropa-Port du Havre in France have signed final key agreements for an offshore wind turbine manufacturing plant.
The Le Havre factory, on a 36-hectare site, will produce blades, nacelles and generators, while the site will also include a “dedicated” logistics area for offshore wind project installation, for a period of 30 years, according to deal terms.
The construction of the facility is scheduled to start in mid-2020 with commissioning expected at the end of 2021.
Siemens Gamesa managing director Filippo Cimitan said: “This is a major step in the realisation of our industrial project.
“The next milestone, once the authorisations have been obtained, will be to prepare, with local stakeholders and our partners, the training and recruitment of the 750 people who will work on this project. We will be there.”
Haropa-Port du Havre general manager Baptiste Maurand added: “We are delighted with this signature, which is a decisive step that everyone was waiting for.
“It formalises the respective commitments of Haropa-Port du Havre and Siemens Gamesa for the benefit of this sector, which provides industrial and port jobs.”
Financial support from the State, the Normandy Region, the Urban Community of Le Havre Seine Normandie, the City of Le Havre, the City of Le Havre and the Seine Estuaire Chamber of Commerce will allow the consolidation and maritime infrastructure works necessary for the development of the site.