Following its recent re-entry into offshore wind, Vestas now announces its intentions to further expand its UK offshore wind production footprint, contingent on the success of the company in securing sufficient project volume in the upcoming Contracts for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round 4.
Vestas is currently investigating the potential of expanding its UK footprint through additional manufacturing and supplier sites across the UK.
20 years on the Isle of Wight
Vestas recently celebrated its more than 20-year history at its Isle of Wight facility in Newport with the production of its 1,000th offshore wind blade from the facility, a V164-9.5 MW blade destined for the 1,075 MW Seagreen offshore wind project being developed by SSE Renewables and Total.
To increase the economic benefit of offshore wind to the UK, Vestas is currently engaged 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. Vestas anticipates it could create nearly 2,000 direct jobs across the wind turbine manufacturing supply chain, if successful in securing enough project volume.
Andersen: Intent on expanding already sizeable UK footprint
Henrik Andersen, President and CEO of Vestas, commented on the 1,000th blade being produced and Vestas’ plans in the UK,
“With over 20 years in the UK, more than 1,000 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”.
Expansion of IW facility
Vestas recently announced its next-generation turbine, the V236-15.0 MW turbine, which is due to be powered by mammoth 115.5 metre blades, a world-leading blade length.
The Isle of Wight manufacturing facility has the potential to be expanded for serial production of the 115.5 metre blades, enabling Vestas to leverage the wind expertise that the company has built up in the UK.
Over 10,000 onshore and offshore blades
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. Over the years, Vestas has invested close to £1bn with UK suppliers, including more than £100m per year since 2017.
R&D on the Isle of Wight
Alongside existing and potentially future manufacturing and supplier activities, 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.
700 employed on the IW
Vestas currently employs over 1,500 people in the UK, spanning blade manufacturing, R&D, construction, service and other vital functions, over 700 of which are employed on the Isle of Wight.
Vestas has installed over 5.3 GW of wind turbines in the UK already, and is currently supplying several significant projects with blades from its Isle of Wight facility.
Current installation projects include the 857 MW Triton Knoll and 950 MW Moray East wind projects currently under construction, and the 1,075 MW Seagreen project, due to be Scotland’s largest renewable energy project once installed.
News shared by John Wawer on behalf of Vestas. Ed
