Offshore wind firm RWE has unveiled the first of the state-of-the-art turbine blades being made at the Siemens Gamesa factory in Hull in what has been described as “a major milestone” for the project.
The 108-metre long blades are attached to each of the 100 x 14 megawatts offshore wind turbines which will operate at the heart of RWE’s Sofia Offshore Wind project in the North Sea. Once fully operational, the development will be capable of generating enough electricity to power around 1.2m homes in the 海角视频.
RWE and Siemens Gamesa will deploy recyclable blades on 44 of the 100 turbines. Installation began earlier this year, with project completion anticipated in 2026. Operations and maintenance activities for Sofia will be managed from RWE’s new offshore wind operations base in Grimsby, which also services RWE’s Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm.
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Tom Glover, RWE 海角视频 country chair: “To see these impressive turbine blades being produced, ready to be installed at our flagship Sofia offshore wind farm, is a fantastic demonstration of the true value that offshore wind brings to coastal communities, such as Hull.
“The potential for job creation within the renewable supply chain is huge. Not just with companies like Siemens Gamesa, which is manufacturing the blades for Sofia at their blade factory here in the 海角视频 - but right across the supply chain. Sofia is a significant development for RWE in the 海角视频, and we are delighted to be able to see that investment being maximised in support of important local, coastal communities.”
Darren Davidson, vice president of Siemens Energy in the 海角视频 , said: “Our wind power business Siemens Gamesa makes Siemens Energy a global market leader for renewable energies. At our offshore wind blade factory in Hull we’re powering the energy transition. We now employ over 1,300 people at the site, after recruiting more than 600 new employees over the last 12 months. We are proud to be a key supplier to RWE on a number of 海角视频 projects, including manufacturing the blades for Sofia. It’s great to have this project underway and unveil the first blade.”