Vestas is investigating the potential of expanding its UK offshore wind footprint through additional factories and supplier sites across the UK.
Vestas is in discussions with potential partners that can competitively supply towers and additional blade manufacturing in the North East of the UK and has signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with several potential partners.
The turbine manufacturer said any decisions to increase its investments in its UK base are contingent on it securing sufficient project volume in the upcoming Round 4 Contracts for Difference (CfD).
Vestas anticipates it could create nearly 2000 direct jobs across the wind turbine manufacturing supply chain, if successful in securing enough project volume.
Vestas recently completed production of its thousandth offshore wind turbine blade from its Isle of Wight factory, which has been running for 20 years.
The V164-9.5MW blade is destined for the 1075MW Seagreen offshore wind project being developed by SSE Renewables and Total.
Vestas recently announced its next-generation turbine, the V236-15.0MW turbine, which is due to be powered by 115.5 metre-long blades.
The Isle of Wight factory has the potential to be expanded for serial production of these blades.
Vestas CEO Henrik Andersen said: “With over 20 years in the UK, more than 1000 V164 blades now produced from the Isle of Wight for UK and European markets, and significant R&D activity on our cutting-edge blades taking place in the UK, we are truly committed to the UK.
“We are extremely proud of the onshore and offshore wind expertise that we have built up in the UK and are positive about the market potential being created from the CfD Rounds.
“If successful in securing enough turbine orders from CfD Allocation Round 4, which includes a strengthened Supply Chain Plan policy for project developers, Vestas is intent on expanding its already sizeable UK footprint.
“We are in discussions with a number of potential partners and look forward to securing competitive solutions that augment Vestas’ activities in the UK, for delivery of future UK projects”.
Since 2002, Vestas has manufactured more than 10,000 onshore and offshore blades on the Isle of Wight.
Blades produced from the Isle of Wight have been used at both UK projects and exported to European projects. Over £360m worth of blades has been exported for North European offshore wind projects from the Isle of Wight since 2014.
Vestas has also carried out blade technology research and development (R&D) for its latest turbine blade models on the Isle of Wight for the past 20 years, at a blade technology R&D centre located in West Medina Mills.
This centre has been “essential in the design and testing” of eight different blades types, including its latest onshore and offshore turbine platforms.
Vestas employs over 1500 people in the UK, over 700 of which are employed on the Isle of Wight.