A new wind turbine blade testing factory is set to be constructed near Newcastle according to an announcement by Clipper Windpower this week. The news has been warmly welcolmed after the recent Vestas blade factory closure on the Isle of Wight.
The 4000 m2 factory will be part funded by an offshore wind technology grant of over £4m (over US $6m) from the Department of Energy and Climate Change. It is expected to be constructed by September of this year.
The North East has suffered from the recession acutely but the new wind turbine facility is expected to help the region become an important economic hub for offshore wind energy.
The factory is expected to manufacture blades for Clippers’ new aptly named ‘Britannia’ wind turbines. The turbines are being designed to use the largest blades yet seen at an operational wind farm at 72 metres long. Britannia wind turbines are expected to have a rated capacity of 10 megawatts. If the testing facility can deliver a robust turbine fit for purpose the factory could generate 500 green collar jobs by 2020.
James G.P. Dehlsen, Chairman of Clipper, said:
“Today marks an exciting and important milestone in achieving the Britannia Project blade requirements. Over the next few years, with the development of the Britannia turbine the UK will benefit through the supply of electricity based on its abundant offshore wind energy resource, and also with economic activity related to turbine manufacturing, offshore installation, and long term operations and servicing. The offshore wind market in the UK is rapidly becoming one of the most exciting sectors in the global renewable energy industry.”
UK hopes for a green manufacturing base were left reeling last year after the announcement of the Vestas factory closure. Supply chain activity is however beginning to hot up this year with companies like French engineering giant Technip looking to set up a UK office in Aberdeen and cash in on the offshore wind rush.
