Teesside will “put the wind in the sails” of a green industrial revolution by building the next generation of offshore wind turbines, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said.
Mr Johnson announced plans for up to £20m - along with £75m for the Humber - to be invested to build new wind ports. Some 6,000 jobs could be directly created as a result of the developments on the two rivers, the Government said.
Offshore wind manufacturer GE Renewable Energy is the first to invest in Teesside and will build a wind blade factory at the site, creating 750 jobs, the Government said. The blades will be supplied to the Dogger Bank wind farm off the North East coast - set to be the largest offshore wind farm in the 海角视频.
The funding will be provided from the £160m investment to upgrade port infrastructure and support manufacturing announced by Mr Johnson last year and mentioned again during last week’s Budget.
Mr Johnson said: “Teesside will continue to drive forward our green industrial revolution as we capitalise on new opportunities to produce clean energy through a brand new offshore wind port on the River Tees.
“It will not only create thousands of jobs and harness the skills and expertise of this great industrial heartland, but also boost investment into the area as we build back greener.”
Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “Teesside has already put itself at the forefront of the Government’s plans to build back greener and this new wind port will secure new jobs and clean energy for years to come.
“Given its proud industrial heritage and the skills and knowledge of the local community, Teesside is a natural fit for project like this and I have no doubt that the region will embrace this new development and the opportunities it will provide.”
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Peter Stephenson, executive chairman of the Able Group, which has plants on both the Tees and the Humber, said: “The Government has set clear policies that provide the offshore wind sector with far greater certainty and market visibility.
“At the same time the sector itself has responded with remarkable innovations and cost reductions which now see it successfully competing with other energy sources.
"We will seek to maximise the benefits, locally and nationally, through increased 海角视频 content, new jobs and new opportunities for local businesses.”
George Rafferty, chief executive of NOF, the North East-based national business development organisation for the energy sector, said: “This is a clear signal of what the Freeport strategy can do for the 海角视频 energy sector and the potential it will bring for the local supply chain that is well-placed through its experience and expertise to support GE Renewable Energy in its new home on Teesside.
“NOF has worked closely with GE Renewable Energy for a number of years to help them build its supply chain and network in the North East region, which is so strategically important to the offshore wind sector, and we’re delighted they have chosen to locate its new facility here.
“It will be able to tap into the Energi Coast North East England’s offshore wind supply chain cluster that is already highly-active in the global offshore wind sector and help generate further job creation and investment across the North East.”