Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy is to more than double the size of its offshore wind blade factory in Hull, in the north-east of England, following the announcement of support from the UK government.
The UK site’s footprint will increase from 36,000m2 to 77,600m2 by 2023, enabling the manufacture of next generation blades and raising the number of direct jobs by 200, from around 1,000 at present.
The government is due to help fund the factory’s expansion via a £160 million (€188 million) support scheme announced last October.
However, it is unclear how much of the £186 million expansion will be government funded and how much will come from Siemens Gamesa.
It is due to be completed before Siemens Gamesa’s SG 14-222 DD turbine with 108-metre blades becomes commercially available in 2024.
The manufacture of other blade types will continue while the expansion is carried out, Siemens Gamesa added. Since it was opened in 2016, the Hull factory has delivered more than 1,500 blades worldwide.
Tower factory
Meanwhile, the UK government has also pledged support to GRI Renewable Industries, to help it build an offshore wind turbine factory at Able Marine Energy Park in Hull.
The £78 million factory will create up to 260 direct jobs and is due for completion in 2023. It is also unclear how this investment will be split between the UK government and GRI Renewable Industries.
The Able Marine Energy Park is also due to host a monopile factory. It will be built by South Korean steel company SeAH Wind, with the first foundations set to be produced from 2023.
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