News Release issued by
the COI News Distribution Service on 16 September 2009
The world’s
biggest wind turbine blades will be made in Britain,
Cutting edge offshore turbines bigger than the Blackpool tower
The world’s biggest wind turbine blades will be made in Britain,
Energy and Climate Secretary Ed Miliband said today.
Announcing grants for three offshore wind energy companies Mr
Miliband today told the TUC annual conference:
“With strong government backing, the UK is consolidating its lead
in offshore wind energy.
We already have more offshore wind
energy than any other country, we have the biggest wind farm in
the world about to start construction, and now we’ll see the
biggest turbine blades in the world made here in Britain.
“Our coastline means the offshore wind industry has the potential
to employ tens of thousands of workers by 2020, manufacturing,
transporting, installing and operating new turbines.
“It will take an active government to get us there and the funds
I’m announcing today are part of the £120 million investment we
are making this year and next in the wind industry to make that happen.”
The three companies are:
- Clipper Wind Power - £4.4 million to develop their first
prototype 70m blade for the Britannia project – the largest wind
turbines in the world.
- Artemis Intelligent Power - £1 million to transfer their
existing technology from automotive to wind energy.
- Siemens Wind Power UK - £1.1 million to develop the next
generation power convertors for their larger offshore turbine.
As a result of their award Clipper will start work on a plant in
the North East of England where blades for their giant turbines
will be developed. Once constructed, each blade will be more than
70 metres long and weigh over 30 tonnes. The blades are part of
the turbines that will stand at 175 meters tall. The plant will
initially employ 60 people by the end of next year.
The grants are awarded under phase 1 of the Low Carbon Energy
Demonstration (LCED) capital grants scheme. Vestas Technology UK
Ltd was the first company to receive an award under the scheme
last month. The total amount awarded under phase 1 is £10 million.
James G.P. Dehlsen, Chairman of Clipper Windpower, said:
“With the deployment of the 10MW Clipper offshore turbine in UK
waters, the nation will benefit from clean power, and also from
the strong economic boost arising from the development and serial
production of the turbines in the coming years. DECC’s leadership
in initiating and expediting the grant program is timely and will
help to accelerate our planning for and delivery of the Britannia
project. We are appreciative of the support and look forward to
the opportunity to continue to work closely with DECC.”
Waverley Cameron, Chairman of Artemis Intelligent Power said:
“This kind of targeted support by government enables small
R&D companies like Artemis to develop the breakthrough
technologies needed to bring Britain to the forefront of the low
carbon revolution.”
Andreas J. Goss, chief executive of Siemens in the UK and North
West Europe said:
“Siemens is committed to developing the technology and
infrastructure to enable wind power to make a major contribution
to the UK’s energy needs and help government meet the 2020
targets. We are delighted to have been successful in being granted
this support, which will enable us to develop our advanced power
conversion technology here in the UK, helping growth and job
creation in the UK wind industry to become a reality."
Notes to Editors
1. The Britannia Project blade development is anticipated to take
place at a new 4,000 m2 facility which Clipper expects to occupy
on the River Tyne in the North East of England by the start of
April 2010. The plant will employ approximately 60 people by end
of 2010. Once constructed, each blade will be more than 70 metres
long and weigh over 30 tonnes.
2. Clipper plans to utilise fully the emerging UK supply chain
opportunities in developing the manufacturing process for the new
10 MW turbine. A fully operational Clipper 10 MW turbine will
stand at 175 metres in height and, over its lifetime, is expected
to displace the use of two million barrels of oil and offset the
need to dispel 724,000 tons of CO2 into the earth’s atmosphere.
Upon serial production, the 10 MW turbines will be deployed
initially in European waters.
3. As previously announced on 17th April 2008, The Crown Estate
has agreed to purchase the Britannia prototype. This investment
will allow The Crown Estate to gain firsthand knowledge of the
challenges facing the development of wind turbines specialised for
deep water marine deployment as the process of engaging industry
to develop the next phase of offshore wind farms begins.
4. The first £10 million call under the Low Carbon Energy
Demonstration (LCED) capital grants scheme was launched on 28 May
2009. It was designed to address a critical barrier facing the
deployment of renewable offshore wind generation in the UK, namely
the growth in demand for renewables generation beyond the capacity
of the supply chain to deliver. It is specifically aimed at
bringing forward the demonstration of new components or technology
to support the earlier deployment of large-scale multi-MW wind
turbines to enable their deployment within 2020 timescales. It
also aims to provide a learning experience which can improve
confidence and help reduce future costs; and underpin development
of the industry by stimulating the UK supply chain.
Contacts:
Department of Energy and Climate Change
nds.decc@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Helen McBain
Phone: 0300 068 5219
helen.mcbain@decc.gsi.gov.uk