Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy is to double the size of its Humber offshore wind turbine blade factory after securing government funding.
The green energy giant will invest £186 million in its manufacturing facility in Hull, creating 200 new direct jobs and safeguarding hundreds more.
It’s expected to deliver a “huge boost” to the region, helping to deliver on the UK Government’s pledge to level up industrial hubs.
Meanwhile, GRI Renewable Industries is investing £78m in an offshore wind turbine tower factory on the south bank of the Humber, creating up to 260 direct jobs.
Both companies received a share of grant funding from Westminster’s £160m Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Support scheme, announced as part of its 10 Point Plan.
Last month, offshore wind manufacturers in the Humber and Newcastle announced more than £180m of private investment in facilities.
Moreover, government pledged to invest almost £100m to create two new offshore wind ports in Humber and Teesside earlier this year.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “The Humber region embodies the UK’s green industrial revolution, with new investment into developing the next generation of wind turbines set to create new jobs, export opportunities and clean power across the country.
“With less than a hundred days to go until the climate summit COP26, we need to see more countries embracing new technologies, building green industries and phasing out coal power for a sustainable future.”
© PAKwasi Kwarteng, the UK Government’s Business Secretary, said: “With its close proximity to some of the world’s largest offshore wind farms and strong skills base, the Humber region is vitally important for the growth of the British offshore wind industry and is at the heart of our green recovery.
“Our announcement backed by private investment will give a boost to this important industrial heartland, creating and supporting thousands of good quality jobs across the region while ensuring it is on the frontline of developing the next generation of offshore wind turbines.”
The Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Support scheme was announced last year as part of the Prime Minister’s 10 Point Plan.
It is designed to support the delivery of manufacturing investment in the offshore wind supply chain by providing grant funding for major investments.
Last month, Siemens Gamesa announced it had submitted a bid in the ScotWind leasing round alongside Mainstream Renewable Power.
If successful, much of the work for future wind farm will be carried out at its base in Hull.
Marc Becker, chief executive of the Siemens Gamesa Offshore Business Unit, said: “Since our offshore blade factory opened in Hull in 2016, Siemens Gamesa has proudly served as the catalyst for the powerful growth the area has seen. The rapid development of the offshore wind industry – and continued, strong, long-term support provided by the UK government for offshore wind – has enabled us to power ahead with confidence when making these plans. We’re committed to unlocking the potential of wind energy around the globe, with solutions from Hull playing a vital role.
“Siemens Gamesa continues to be the leading supplier of offshore wind turbine technology in the world’s leading offshore wind market, the UK. Through safe, efficient, and reliable manufacturing, over 1,500 blades from Hull have been delivered to customers worldwide. We’re very much looking forward to adding to the approx. 1.4 GW of clean power capacity these blades help provide as a part of our offshore Direct Drive wind turbines.”
Jon Riberas, chairman & CEO of GRI, added: “We are proud to participate in this major project to power British homes and communities with wind energy towards sustainability and carbon neutrality. This project will create a worldwide leader in the offshore sector in a market that is increasingly demanding and constantly evolving.”
Dan McGrail, CEO of trade body RenewableUK, said: “These two key announcements are a massive boost for the Humber region and provide further proof that the UK’s cutting-edge offshore wind supply chain is scaling up at a terrific pace, creating job opportunities in coastal communities which need levelling up.
“This is what Boris Johnson’s Green Industrial Revolution looks like in action and the Government is backing offshore wind manufacturing in the UK to the hilt.
“Today’s news comes as the UN publishes a landmark report warning that the world must ramp up the speed and scale of action against climate change as a matter of urgency.
“To achieve this, the renewable energy industry is working with the Government to maximise the number of jobs in our thriving clean energy sector, including exporting our cutting-edge products and services around the world, as the UK is a global leader in clean energy technology.”
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