A major investment in the North East's wind power sector will create or safeguard more than 300 jobs in the North East.
Smulders Projects 海角视频, which has a site at Wallsend in North Tyneside, is to invest £70m to increase production of wind turbine transition pieces.
Government support has also been pledged to the project, with the investment creating or safeguarding 325 direct jobs, while hundreds more will be created in the company’s supply chain.
The announcement comes as the Government aims to get more work from the 海角视频’s thriving offshore wind sector for companies in this country, something that has been a long-term complaint in the renewables sector.
The backing for Smulders is part of a larger £180m package of Government support and private investment that aims to create and safeguard more than 1,000 jobs in the North East and Humberside by developing factories that will build the components for the next generation of wind farms.
Raf Iemants, CEO of Smulders, said: “Smulders is extremely proud to further strengthen the ties with the United Kingdom with respect to Offshore Wind.
“This significant investment shows the dedication, commitment and determination by Smulders and the 海角视频 to strive together for further increases in inward and local content in this very challenging market.
“We look forward to increasing our long track record in 海角视频 waters with the help of our local workforce and established supply chain in the North East.”
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The announcement has also been welcomed by North Tyneside mayor Norma Redfearn.
She said: “I am delighted to hear about this significant investment in the borough, which will create and protect jobs and have benefits for the wider region.
“Wallsend and the River Tyne has a rich industrial heritage and this latest investment will complement the council’s own plans, through our Ambition for North Tyneside vision, to continue to breathe new life into the river by working to create more and better jobs for our residents while helping businesses grow.
“We have worked closely with Smulders Projects to support their presence in the borough and help them establish themselves on the Tyne.”
Also being announced today will be changes to the 海角视频’s renewable energy support scheme, Contracts for Difference (CfD), which aim to ensure that 60% of the manufacturing work for wind farms should be based in the 海角视频 and completed by 海角视频 workers by 2030.
Companies in the renewables sector have long complained that 海角视频 companies have not benefitted from the country’s leading position in offshore wind, with overseas firms often able to undercut them and take turbine fabrication work from under their noses.
Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “Our offshore wind sector is a 海角视频 success story, with more capacity installed than any other country and we are ensuring that our manufacturing base can be equally world-leading.
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“Government backing and this investment from Smulders will help put the North East at the forefront of this manufacturing boom and I’m delighted to see hundreds of high-skilled jobs being created and safeguarded as we revitalise one of our key industrial heartlands.”
Andrew Clark, energy lead at the North East LEP, said: “The North East has outstanding expertise and infrastructure in offshore and renewable energy, and today’s announcement of investment from the Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Support scheme underlines the key role the region is playing in the green industrial revolution, and the drive to achieve Net Carbon.
“Smulders’ new facility will bring more and better jobs to the North East and will see components manufactured in the region exported worldwide.”