German manufacturing company Siemens has announced plans to invest up to £160 million in wind turbine production and installation facilities located around the UK.
Finances will be spread across the development of facilities in Green Port Hull and a new rotor blade manufacturing plant located in Paull, East Riding.
The Green Port Hull development was first announced in 2011, before being granted planning permission in May 2012, however it has taken till now for a deal to be signed between the company and its partner Associated British Ports (ABP).
Siemens are expected to invest £160 million into the works, whilst ABP will supply another £150 million.
The company was originally planning on investing £80 million, but soon decided to revise its plans, further boosting its investment in the offshore wind industry.
All in all, the £310 million investment is expected to generate up to 1,000 jobs in total, split between the two facilities, with individual jobs being created indirectly as the supply chain increases.
550 of these jobs will be generated at the turbine factory in Paull, where Siemens designs and creates its enormous 75-metre long blades to be installed on 6MW turbines.
Speaking to the BBC, ABP chief executive, James Cooper, said “The announcement by Siemens today underlines the critical role the Humber region plays in servicing the UK’s energy needs, both today and in the future.”
“We are delighted that Siemens has chosen to partner with us to realise this exciting project.”
It is believed that both projects should be operational by 2016, ready to meet the demand of large wind farms, such as Dogger Bank.
