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Made In Britain: The world's biggest wind turbine blades
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
