Terms of the construction and financing of the new plant are in advanced stages of negotiation between the interested parties, but GE Renewable Energy estimates that the new plant, set to open and start production in 2023, could create up to 750 direct renewable energy jobs and up to 1,500 indirect jobs in the area to support the entire value chain needed to operate this facility. This announcement and commitment support the UK government’s plan to develop jobs, infrastructure, and supply chains to reach its goal to commission 40 GW of offshore wind power by 2030 and become a global leader in green energy.
As part of that plan, Teesside has just been designated as one of the UK’s newest freeports. GE Renewable Energy’s new blade manufacturing plant will be located on Teesworks, an ideal location to serve the vast offshore wind potential of the North Sea.
“This new plant will contribute to the development of an industrial cluster dedicated to offshore wind in the North East of England” said Jerôme Pécresse, President and CEO of GE Renewable Energy. “We are delighted to announce such a commitment for the renewable energy industry, we believe it will help develop a strong talent pool through the hiring and more importantly training of future colleagues. The UK’s target to commission 40 GW of offshore wind by 2030 is ambitious and requires that we invest in local production capabilities to accompany this effort.”
The announcement follows the creation of strong partnerships built with key stakeholders such as the UK Government, the Tees Valley Mayor, Teesworks and its municipality.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that Teesside will continue to drive forward the UK’s green industrial revolution as the country capitalises on new opportunities to produce clean energy through a brand new offshore wind port on the River Tees and that it will not only create thousands of jobs and harness the skills and expertise of this great industrial heartland, but also boost investment into the area as the government builds back greener.
The Dogger Bank Offshore Wind Farm, which is located between 125 km and 290 km off the east coast of Yorkshire, would benefit directly from the blades produced at this new plant. The three phases of the Dogger Bank Wind Farm, powered by GE’s Haliade-X offshore wind turbine, will have a combined installed generation capacity of 3.6 GW, enough to power six million UK homes. When complete in 2026, it will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm.
GE Renewable Energy already employs close to 1,500 people at its UK facilities, with the majority located between Stafford (GE Grid Solutions) and its LM Wind Power engineering centre in Southampton. The company has also announced an investment of $20 million in R&D and testing activities for the Haliade-X offshore wind platform – mainly in the UK – and continues to partner with ORE Catapult in Blyth on areas such as innovation, R&D and testing major components.
The Teeside plant will enable the company to further expand its renewable energy industrial footprint in the UK and confirms its ambition to become a key actor in the country’s offshore wind industry. GE is also working closely with its suppliers to develop a local sourcing base in the UK for some critical components of offshore wind turbines.
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