Vestas Gets Green Light for Turbine Plant in England

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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland) -- Three years after it pulled out of the wind turbine manufacturing sector in the U.K. Danish company, Vestas Wind Systems (OTC:VWDRY) (Randers, Denmark) could be coming back after receiving the green light to build a new turbine plant in Kent, southeast England.

The company has received planning permission from Swale Borough Council to build a new offshore turbine manufacturing plant at a site at Sheerness Dock on the Isle of Sheppey. The proposed plant will employ up to 2,000 people and is expected to produce the company's forthcoming 7-megawatt (MW) V164 turbines for the offshore windfarm market.

A company spokesman said he was 'happy' that planning permission had been granted but was not able to confirm when, and if, work will start on the construction of the new plant. The plant's future will depend on orders for the new 7 MW turbine. A prototype was expected to be installed in waters off Demark next year but this has since been postponed until 2014.

Vestas renewed interest in the U.K. was confirmed last year when it signed a deal with Peel Ports (Manchester, England) for 70 hectares of land at the Port of Sheerness. For additional information see May 16, 2011, article - Vestas Picks U.K. for Offshore Turbine Plant.

Until the summer of 2009, Vestas operated the U.K.'s only large wind turbine manufacturing facility in Newport on the Isle of Wight, off the south coast of England. In July of that year it closed the operation blaming decreasing demand for wind turbines in northern Europe and attacked the U.K.'s planning delays and local opposition for slowing down the construction of new windfarms. For additional information, see July 27, 2009, article - Vestas to Shut U.K.'s Only Wind Turbine Manufacturing Plant.

The U.K. represents the world's largest wind market, with the latest Round 3 projects alone expected to account for more than 25,000 MW of electricity. For additional information, see January 4, 2010, article - U.K. To Award £100 Billion in Offshore Wind Contracts.

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