Siemens Chooses Port of Hull for Wind Turbine Plant

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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--German engineering giant Siemens AG (NYSE:SI) (Munich, Germany) has selected the Port of Hull in England as the proposed site for its offshore turbine manufacturing and export facility.

Siemens has signed a memorandum of understanding with Associated British Ports (ABP) for the development of a turbine manufacturing plant at ABP's proposed Green Port Hull development at Alexandra Dock, Port of Hull. ABP is the U.K.'s largest ports group, which owns and operates 21 ports in England, Scotland and Wales.

The plant is the first of a number of new turbine facilities planned by various manufacturers for the U.K. in the coming year, all hoping to cash in on the country's offshore wind jackpot, which will be worth more than 117 billion euros ($154 billion) in the coming decade. The U.K's Round 3 awards for offshore windfarms is expected to generate more than 25 gigawatts (GW) of electricity. For additional information, see January 4, 2010, news article - U.K. To Award £100 Billion in Offshore Wind Contracts.

Other companies planning new turbine plants include General Electric (NYSE:GE) (Fairfield, Connecticut), renewable energy company Gamesa Corporation S.A. (MCE:GAM) (Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain) and Mitsubishi Power Systems Europe Limited (London, England), a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Limited (TYO:7011) (Tokyo, Japan). For related news, see October 28, 2010, article - U.K. Leading Destination for Offshore Turbine Manufacturers.

"The competition to get to this stage has been fierce," said Matt Jukes, ABP port director for Hull. "We always knew we had a good offer, but for Siemens to say we acknowledge that and we want to work with you, it's monumental news for ABP and for the city."

A key factor in Hull's win is its proximity to some of the largest planned offshore windfarms, including Hornsea and Dogger Bank.

Siemens first announced its intention to build an £80 million ($126 million) plant in the U.K. last March, having signed a memorandum of understanding with the previous government. For related news, see March 30, 2010, article -Siemens Picks U.K. for £80 Million Wind Turbine Plant. Siemens assessed more than 100 ports in the past year, narrowing its search to the east and northeast coast of the country. The new plant will be the first to build Siemens' new direct-drive offshore wind turbine with a capacity of 6 megawatts (MW).

According to Siemens: "Green Port Hull at Alexandra Dock is an established port complex, with excellent access from the road and an adjacent deep water berth. The existing harbour revision order can be amended to enable the export of wind turbines manufactured at the dock. We will now enter into a process with the port focused on finding the optimum solution for the factory, with a view to a contract for build and delivery."

The news was welcomed by the U.K. government, which has been working hard to kick-start its offshore wind strategy by attracting wind turbine manufacturers to the country.

U.K. Business Secretary Vince Cable said: "This announcement by Siemens and ABP is a real vote of confidence in the future of offshore wind energy. I'm pleased Siemens has recognised the great potential of the U.K. and is pressing ahead with this project to create a world-class centre of wind turbine production in Hull. The development of green technologies is a real opportunity for our advanced manufacturing and engineering sectors to grow and build on the U.K.'s position as the sixth-largest manufacturer in the world."

IIR's Renewable Energy Database provides extensive coverage on the wind energy, geothermal, hydroelectric, landfill gas-to-energy and utility-scale solar power plants throughout North America, and is now expanding coverage across the world.

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