Over 200 full time skilled jobs are being advertised for positions at MHI Vestas Offshore Wind’s blade production facility in Newport. Serial production of 80m composite blades will begin in May.
Vestas CEO Jens Tommerup said the creation of over 200 skilled jobs underlines MHI Vestas Offshore Wind’s commitment to the UK offshore market.
“These new jobs are skilled and form a critical aspect of our manufacturing capability. When serial production begins in May, MHI Vestas Offshore Wind will be the only manufacturer producing blades for offshore wind projects in the UK. The 80m blades for the V164-8.0 MW prototype were designed, manufactured and tested at the Isle of Wight facility. We have developed the unique competences and processes necessary to manufacture blades at the centre which makes it an ideal location to ramp up to serial manufacturing.”
MHI Vestas Offshore Wind and the Isle of Wight Council are working closely together. MHI Vestas Offshore Wind, supported by the council, will run an awareness event early in the week beginning 9th of February 2015, more details of this event will be available on both the MHI Vestas Offshore Wind and Isle of Wight Council’s websites.
The decision to manufacture blades on the Isle of Wight was announced in November last year and is the first part of a wider industrial strategy in the UK which is expected to result in up to £200m worth of investment and safeguarding or creating up to 800 jobs.
MHI Vestas Offshore Wind will lease the production hall at Vestas’ blades technology centre on the Isle of Wight. The Vestas R&D facility on the Isle of Wight was opened in 2011 and was specifically designed to develop large blades for the latest wind turbines. The facility consists of two halls 170m long and 50m wide, one for testing and verification, and one for blade production, which will be leased by MHI Vestas Offshore Wind.
Vestas will continue to conduct research and development of blade technology on the Isle of Wight, including the testing and verification of the V164-8.0 MW which is being finalised by Vestas on behalf of MHI Vestas Offshore Wind. The lease of the production hall will have no impact on Vestas employees working in R&D on the site.
