New Industry: Turbines could turn tables on years of decline

THE long decline of Yorkshire's proud industrial heritage has been well documented over the years, leaving deep social and economic scars in communities across the region.

From textiles to steel, sea fishing to agriculture, heavy and light manufacturing to coal, Yorkshire's traditional industries suffered repeated blows throughout the latter half of the last century, the region's once-powerhouse economy left a shadow of its former self.

So the potential opportunities on offer as a vast new industry emerges out on the North Sea horizon could hardly be more welcome. It has long been known that Britain has harboured an offshore wind potential unrivalled by almost anywhere in the world.

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Slowly but surely over recent years, the technology and – crucially – the political will have emerged to make the prospects of tapping into that vast resource more than just a pipedream.

With the Government committed to meeting 20 per cent of our energy needs from renewables sources by 2020, a vast step-change in green energy production is required - and it is in the offshore wind sector that the biggest expansion is proposed.

The scale of what is being proposed is staggering. Britain is already a world leader, producing more offshore wind energy than any other country.

But the Government's announcement of a new round of offshore wind farm contracts moves the country into truly uncharted waters.

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The nine extra sites planned by 2020 should multiply the output by 20 to 32GW – enough to power every home in the country.

They include a 4GW farm off the coast at Hornsea measuring the width of England itself, and a colossal 9GW development at Dogger Bank which will effectively become the largest power station in Europe when completed, producing enough electricity to meet 10 per cent of the UK's needs.

Thousands of turbines will be required, each measuring some 400ft high. They will need to be built as close as possible to their location – meaning a port on the North Sea coast – and then serviced and maintained for many decades to come.

Government estimates suggest the offshore wind industry could be responsible for 70,000 jobs in the UK by 2020, with industry insiders speculating this figure could rocket far higher if Britain becomes a global hub for turbine production.

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Peter Clusky is senior manager of renewables for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, one of the firms set to establish a new research and development facility for wind turbines in the UK.

"The industry is now moving to a much bigger scale with offshore wind," he said. "Britain has a good track record – if you look at North Sea oil and gas and the investment in that, there was a massive ramp-up in the early 1970s, and the industry evolved as time went on becoming more and more efficient."

Attracting manufacturing firms like Mitsubishi and industry leader Siemens to the Yorkshire region preoccupies planners and politicians. It is seen as the first step in creating a huge production hub for the North Sea and beyond for the coming century.

Siemens's head of UK wind power operations, Christoph Ehlers, said: "We have looked in detail at a couple of ports in the UK, so we have a very good idea what makes sense and what doesn't.

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"They are from the North East down to the Humber area. Each have pros and cons so far.

"We really need to see what investment is needed to bring the infrastructure up to speed. It is absolutely a long-term investment."

Any UK port which becomes home to a major wind turbine manufacturer will need investment, and to this end the Government recently announced a 60m competition for funding to port sites around the UK.

Further details are on hold until after the election - but it is clear that the winning site and surrounding area are likely to reap the benefits for many years to come.

GLOBAL GIANTS EYED BY REGION

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Siemens – The German technology firm is planning an 80m turbine plant on the east coast of Britain, employing at least 700 people. Planners believe attracting Siemens will be the key to creating a turbine industry in the region.

General Electric – The US power giant will build a 100m turbine plant somewhere in the UK It says the plant could "ultimately deliver nearly 2,000 jobs by 2020". Could be the most likely of the three to choose the Humber as its base.

Mitsubishi – The Japanese engineering company will make its first foray into the offshore wind market with a 100m research facility in the UK creating 200 jobs. It is likely to be a precursor to a larger manufacturing plant.