Siemens Gamesa’s plan to double the size of its blade manufacturing plant in Hull, the UK, will create 250 new jobs.
The jobs number was revealed during the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak’s visit to Siemens Gamesa’s facilities at the Green Port Hull complex.
During a tour of the factory, Chancellor Sunak met apprentices and operatives manufacturing wind turbines, before viewing the first blade due to be sent off to the 1.4 GW Hornsea Two wind farm this week off the Yorkshire coast in the North Sea.
Once completed, Hornsea Two will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm and will power 1.3 million households.
Chancellor Sunak also discussed the Government’s investment to develop a new port hub for offshore wind on the Humber. The move is expected to create 3,000 new jobs and put the region at the heart of the UK’s offshore wind industry.
”The UK is the largest producer of offshore wind energy in the world, and we are putting the Humber at the heart of our green recovery,” Chancellor Sunak said.
”That is why we are investing tens of millions of pounds to create over 3,000 new jobs to upgrade the new port for offshore wind, as well as granting it freeport status to attract green investment. With six months to go until the UK hosts COP26 in Glasgow, it is clear that the Humber will play a critical role as we lead the world in building back better and greener from the pandemic.”
Earlier this year, Siemens Gamesa submitted an application to expand the blade manufacturing facility at the Green Port Hull from 36,000 to 77,600 square metres.
The proposed development is reportedly dependent on the UK government support and Siemens Gamesa securing work for the next phase of development on the offshore wind farms.
It could see blades in excess of 100 metres being developed in Hull, such as the record-breaking B108 blades for the company’s most powerful wind turbine – the SG 14-222 DD.