The Rt Hon Ed Davey, Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change, joined Siemens global executives to mark ground-breaking on wind turbine manufacturing and assembly facilities in Hull.
Mr Davey visited Hull’s Alexandra Dock to celebrate the beginning of construction on the site where Siemens will operate blade manufacturing, assembly and servicing facilities. With its partner, Associated British Ports (ABP), Siemens is investing £310m in the development. The Siemens facilities will create 1,000 direct jobs and many more during the construction phase and in the supply chain.
The Secretary of State and Siemens executives were also joined by leaders from the European renewables industry to record an important milestone in the Hull project at the event, which had the theme “Engineering the Future”.
As work begins at Alexandra Dock it was announced that the first wind farm that would benefit from Hull is Dudgeon, off the Norfolk coast, which it is planned, will be able to use the facility and quayside for part of its installation.
Siemens has been selected as the supplier to Dudgeon, which is owned by Norwegian energy companies Statoil and Statkraft and Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, Masdar, and is operated by Statoil.
The Dudgeon wind farm will comprise 67 of Siemens’ 6 MW offshore wind turbines, which have the world’s longest blade in commercial operation, at 75 metres in length. With an overall capacity of 402 MW Dudgeon will provide clean power to more than 410,000 UK households.
“The start of construction on the Hull site is a landmark in the development of what will be world-class offshore wind manufacturing and assembly facilities. We are delighted the Secretary of State joined us to mark the occasion and that we have been joined by partners and customers who are driving forward the offshore wind industry in the UK and Europe. We are also pleased to be able to announce so far in advance, the destination of the first turbines to be shipped from Hull. The UK offshore wind market has seen strong growth, with even greater future potential. By 2020 14 gigawatts of wind power capacity is to be installed in UK waters, to achieve environmental objectives and security of power supply. Our Hull facilities will contribute significantly to the growth of the offshore wind industry in the UK and to the shared objective of Siemens, the industry and the Government of driving down the costs of renewable energy.”Michael Hannibal, CEO Offshore of the Siemens Wind Power and Renewables Division
“The work started here in Hull is thanks to Siemens, ABP, their partners and the Government working closely together to invest in UK offshore wind for the long term. The £310 million investment will benefit the UK economy by creating green jobs and growth as well as providing secure, sustainable and low-carbon energy. The development will also help to drive down the costs of offshore wind. It marks the beginning of a new industry based here and exporting worldwide.”Ed Davey, Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change
“It’s fantastic to be able to welcome Siemens and their guests to the Port of Hull to mark the official start of works on our Alexandra Dock. We are very much looking forward to working with the Siemens team and the Graham Lagan Construction Group Joint Venture to deliver a project that has the potential to transform a region by anchoring a new industry in our City. Today’s event is testimony to the dedication of many people involved in this project who have worked tirelessly to bring us to this exciting milestone. We now need to build on Siemens’ vote of confidence in the Green Port Hull project and deliver the wider supply chain opportunities this developing industry offers.”John Fitzgerald, ABP Director Humber
ABP has appointed the GRAHAM Lagan Construction Group Joint Venture to develop the Alexandra Dock site for the Siemens facilities and significant enabling work has now begun. Work to be carried out by the joint venture contractors will include building three new berths and a roll-on, roll-off ramp.
Dependent on planning consent, construction of buildings for the blade manufacturing and wind turbine assembly facilities is due to begin in summer 2015, with production of the first blades scheduled for winter 2016. Siemens has already begun hiring for jobs based in Hull, with recruitment continuing through 2015 and 2016.
Siemens is a significant UK employer with 13,760 employees, including around 2,000 employees in its renewable businesses.