- The UK government will fund wind manufacturing expansion plans.
- The government will provide up to £160m to two companies.
- The projects will ensure the creation of over 1,000 direct jobs.
The British government is set to finance Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy and GRI Renewable Industries’ plans to expand their existing manufacturing facilities for offshore turbine components manufacturing in Northern England’s Humber region. The UK government announced that it would award both companies the grant under the Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Support scheme. The programme will disburse some £160 million to develop the UK’s offshore wind capabilities.
Siemens Gamesa will invest £186 million ($221.8mm) to expand its blade manufacturing base within the Green Port Hull complex. Siemens will double the size of its facility to 77,600 square metres and could increase the size of the blades manufactured in the facility (longer than 100m). The proposal will ensure the creation of 1,080 direct jobs. /GRI Renewable loans to construct a £78million offshore wind turbine tower factory at Able Marine Energy Park in Hull. The new facility will assure about 260 direct jobs.
Both projects will generate about £266 million in state and private sector investment to the Humber region. The government says that the proposed grant funding will be approved following due diligence and signing final agreements.