‘Made in Hull’ turbine blades destined for offshore farm

Artist's impression of Siemens's offshore wind project construction assembly and service facility at Green Port Hull.

Dong Energy has chosen the German manufacturer to supply 7MW turbines for the second phase of the Walney Extension Offshore wind farm.

Siemens’s Hull Project Director Finbarr Dowling said: “We are delighted with this news that Dong has chosen our 7MW wind turbine for the Walney Extension second phase.

“We’re particularly pleased as this machine will be using our 75-metre blades, produced from our new facility in Hull. “This underlines the importance of having the manufacture of large components in close proximity to the UK offshore wind markets.”

Construction of the extension could start in 2017, the same year that the factory on Alexandra Dock is expected to be producing blades.

Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Ed Davey described it as “particularly good news” for Hull “where many of the blades for UK projects will be manufactured, and where Siemens are already creating over a thousand new green jobs.”

He added: “I hope to see the towers delivered from a UK factory too.

“Our policies are driving down the costs of renewables and have ensured that British based manufacturers like Siemens are well placed to win renewable energy contracts in the UK and overseas.”

The turbines have a 10 per cent higher output than the 6MW turbines already in use on the Westermost Rough farm just off the Yorkshire coast. Assembly of the turbines will be elsewhere in the UK.