MHI Vestas Offshore Wind is creating 70 new jobs at it’s blade production facility in Newport. The announcement has been welcomed by International Trade Minister, Greg Hands, who said:
“MHI Vestas Offshore Wind’s decision to increase production staff at their Isle of Wight facility is great news. As manufacturers of the latest generation of offshore wind blades they play a vital role in the UK’s offshore wind industry. I look forward to seeing these blades in UK and European projects in the future, starting with the Burbo Bank Extension wind farm.”
A Bilfinger GVA economic impact assessment found that the economic impact of MHI Vestas’ Blade Production facility in the last 12 months has been £135 million of economic output to the UK economy, supporting over 380 direct and indirect jobs, and generating significant value for the local Isle of Wight economy through salaries and spending.
“There are three key areas of value that we bring to the UK, namely competition, innovation and skills, which will continue to bring direct benefits in terms of cost reductions, jobs and investment in the UK.” Said Jens Tommerup CEO at MHI Vestas Offshore wind. “This truly is a win-win-win scenario. A win for UK jobs. A win for UK industry. A win for cost competitive, secure, low carbon power generation in the United Kingdom. We look forward to the, hopefully imminent, announcement of the 2016/17 CFD auction which will enable us to continue to bring value to the UK as ever more cost competitive projects are built out from the early 2020s.”
MHI Vestas Offshore Wind is a joint venture between Vestas Wind Systems A/S and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI). The Newport built blades are 80m in size, weighing 35 tonnes. MHI Vestas remains firmly on track to, once fully triggered and implemented, deliver up to 800 jobs and £200 million of investment in the UK as part of a broader Industrial Strategy.
