RETURN OF MANUFACTURE OF WIND TURBINES TO THE UK
22 February 2010
A year after the closure of the turbine plant Vesta on the Isle of Wight, the American company Clipper Windpower have confirmed plans for a factory in the North East at Walker, near Newcastle. Windpower’s turbines claimed to be the largest in the world, would each be able to generate up to 10MW of electricity, enough for 10,000 homes. A testing facility will be set up, and if the blades work properly, Clipper will make up to 75 a year. The company hopes the turbines will be used in the giant offshore projects, for which the Crown Estates recently awarded operating licences.
The turbines will be manufactured in Walker, by Shepherd Offshore. The government are helping to fund the project. Gordon Brown said that “The UK is a global leader in offshore wind power. and the north-east is at the forefront in providing the skills, expertise and enterprise to capitalise on a rapidly expanding market.
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