The visit is being billed as an opportunity for Huhne to see first-hand how the UK’s green energy policies have created jobs and driven innovation.
“With a €60 million upgrade of our existing facilities, we are prepared to not only test our newest offshore turbine – the V164-7.0 MW – but also future generations of turbines made for the upcoming investments in offshore wind energy in the UK,” said Ditlev Engel, President and CEO of Vestas.
“Even though we were forced to close the production facilities in 2009, we promised to continue to make significant investments on the Isle of Wight – a promise we have kept,” Engel said. “Our new test centre is proof of Vestas’ commitment to the UK and is a shining example of the conversion of a facility to high end innovative jobs and of the societal investments that green energy policies can bring.”
Huhne will see the two large test halls, each 170 m long and 50 m wide – prepared to test some of the biggest blades in the wind industry, including the 80 m blades for the new V164-7.0 MW offshore turbine.
As part of Vestas’ further commitment to the UK, Vestas is preparing to build a manufacturing plant dedicated to the new V164-7.0 MW offshore wind turbine at the port of Sheerness in Kent, provided there is a sufficient order intake for the V164-7.0 MW. It has the potential of creating 2,000 new jobs and confirming the UK as the global leader in offshore wind technology.
“The V164-7.0 MW and the specialised test facilities on the Isle of Wight demonstrates that Vestas is prepared to play a vital role for the UK’s upcoming investments in wind energy, particularly round 3 of the offshore wind energy projects,” Engel said. “I’m looking forward to discussing this with Mr Chris Huhne and thank him and the UK government for staying firm and committed to developing wind energy in the UK – onshore as well as offshore.”
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