Exclusive: Yorkshire bids for global role in wind power

In what is the latest step in the ongoing drive to transform Yorkshire into a global manufacturing hub for wind turbines, the region’s four largest universities are looking to join forces with some of the world’s biggest technology firms to secure the new national research centre for Yorkshire.

Business Secretary Vince Cable announced details of the UK’s third technology and innovation centre (TIC) yesterday, asking for applications from businesses and academic institutions ahead of a nationwide competition.

The Government has committed £200m to establish an elite network of six centres, each focused on a different cutting-edge technology and designed to allow firms to access equipment and expertise.

The new Offshore Renewable Energy TIC will focus solely on technologies for offshore wind, wave and tidal power. Mr Cable said: “The UK is a world leader in offshore engineering. Our reputation makes us an excellent location for research in this area.”

Regional planners want Yorkshire to be the centre of the new turbine manufacturing industry which will serve the vast new wind farms planned off the North Sea coast. Thousands of new 400ft turbines will be required over the next decade. One major victory was achieved this year when Siemens chose Hull as the site for its new turbine factory. It is hoped more firms will follow.

Now the aim is to make the new Offshore Energy TIC part of an emerging manufacturing cluster, providing cutting-edge research in both wind and other types of renewable offshore energy to manufacturers based nearby.

Spearheading the region’s bid to win the TIC is the Centre for Low Carbon Futures, a collaborative project between the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield, York and Hull which shares academics, research tools and funds to work jointly on climate change-related projects.

Its business development manager Kris Milkowski said: “We are certainly planning to be involved – we think Yorkshire is the obvious place for this centre.

“We have done detailed work on offshore wind... We have expertise in these areas and we have ongoing activities in terms of research. The next step is to draw up a bid.”

Mr Milkowski said getting major industry players on board will be key to the region’s success.

“We would aim to pull together the expertise from our four universities and some of the major developers as well,” he said.

“These centres are expected to be led by industry, so we’d be looking to work with the big consortia who will be building these wind farms out in the North Sea.”

Siemens, which is directly involved in the construction of the Hornsea wind farm and already has a turbine research centre in Sheffield, is one likely candidate.

A spokeswoman said yesterday the firm was aware of the Government’s proposals but was not prepared to comment at this stage.

The region’s bid is being backed by CO2Sense, Yorkshire’s not-for-profit environment consultancy.

Chief executive Joanne Pollard said: “It’s absolutely clear this facility should be sited in Yorkshire.

“Yorkshire is already a hub of engineering and innovative excellence for the low-carbon economy – it’s the obvious place.”

Final decisions on all four remaining TICs are expected later this year. Yorkshire already part-hosts the Advanced Manufacturing TIC, which was announced in March and incorporates the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre in Rotherham.