ScottishPower Renewables has confirmed a £1bn deal with Siemens Gamesa for the supply of 15MW turbines for the almost 1GW East Anglia 2 wind farm off east England.
The agreement will see Siemens Gamesa supply 64 of its flagship SG 14-236 DD offshore wind units, which have a rotor diameter of 236 metres.
East Anglia 2 is situated almost 33km off the Suffolk coast. It is part of the EA Hub complex, which was part of a previously-agreed preferred supplier agreement between the companies.
The 115 metres-long blades will be manufactured at Siemens Gamesa’s offshore wind blade factory in Hull, which now employs around 1300 people after recruiting more than 600 new employees over the last 12 months.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower will fire up our industrial heartlands and break down barriers to growth in our hard-working towns and cities.
“It will strengthen our national security – protecting our children and grandchildren from the climate crisis, and impact this will have on their future prosperity.
“By acting decisively and early, the UK has an opportunity to lead the world in the industries of the future – working in partnership with businesses like ScottishPower and Siemens Energy – creating real energy security, cutting energy bills and building jobs and supply chains in the UK.
“But we can’t move alone – and at COP I will lead efforts to protect Britain from climate change by also working with other countries to accelerate the global clean transition to tackle the causes at its root.”
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband added: “This investment is a huge vote of confidence in the UK’s growing renewables sector and will power our clean energy future – supporting skilled jobs and green growth in Hull and beyond.
“Offshore wind is the backbone of our clean power 2030 mission; every new turbine in our waters helps us boost energy security, protect consumers, and tackle the climate crisis.
“We are making the UK a clean energy superpower, backing industry to build cleaner, global supply chains, and to drive investment into our country.”
ScottishPower chief executive Keith Anderson said today is tangible proof of the importance of Britain’s Clean Power Mission.
“Getting more projects like East Anglia 2 off the blocks quicker will turbo-boost the UK’s supply chain, giving companies like Siemens Gamesa the confidence to invest in facilities like this blade factory in Hull,” he said.
“Britain’s clean power targets are achievable but demanding. We’ve doubled our investment and are ready to play our part with government as it gets barriers out the way to build more projects like this, alongside the electricity networks needed to ferry green, homegrown power across the country.”
UK and Ireland vice president for Siemens Energy and Siemens Gamesa Darren Davidson said: “The UK is the first leading industrial country to simultaneously phase out coal power and be a leader in offshore wind.
“If we’re to achieve our net zero targets, it’s mission critical this momentum is maintained. As well as delivering the blades to power the UK’s energy transition, our factory in Hull is acting as a catalyst for economic growth and green jobs across the region.”
PIC L-R: ScottishPower Renewables chief executive Charlie Jordan with UK and Ireland vice president for Siemens Energy and Siemens Gamesa Darren Davidson.