Vestas has announced that it will start manufacturing new, larger wind turbine blades at its factory on the Isle of Wight later this year, resulting in around 50 new jobs being created.
From the end of the second quarter of 2022, Vestas will manufacture 85m blades for its V174-9.5 MW wind turbine at the Stag Lane plant between Newport and Cowes. The V174-9.5 MW wind turbine boasts the industry’s most powerful, commercially proven output, and the new manufacturing line on the Isle of Wight will specifically support turbine deliveries to a European offshore wind project, while adding to existing manufacturing capacity in Denmark and Taiwan.
Johnny Høy Henriksen, COO Northern & Central Europe, has said:
“Introducing a new V174-9.5 MW manufacturing line at Isle of Wight will help boost supply of a key component for the European market and it underlines how Vestas’ flexible manufacturing setup ensures a competitive product offering to our customers. Vestas has invested in the UK for 20 years, and we have great pride in the technical expertise in blade manufacturing that we have developed at our Isle of Wight plant”.
The Isle of Wight plant currently produces V164 turbine blades and has delivered over 1,000 blades to North European markets, including more than £360million worth of exports since 2014. In the past 5 years, Vestas has delivered V164 blades from the Isle of Wight to 7 of the UK’s largest offshore wind projects.
Since 2002, Vestas has tested and manufactured wind turbine blades on the Isle of Wight, prototyping and producing over 10,000 blades and currently employing more than 650 full-time employees in high-value manufacturing.
Local MP Bob Seely has welcomed the news by saying:
“I’ve talked with Vestas this morning, who confirmed the great news about their investment in the Island. In the past months, Vestas have been talking to Government about building the new generation of larger, 85-metre, wind turbine blades here on the Island.
Article continues below this advertisement “This decision is important not only for high-quality jobs for Islanders but it’s also important for Britain as we increase the supply of renewable energy. I understand that there will be another 50 roles at Vestas, bringing their total Island workforce to 700.
“This is a major vote of confidence in the Island and in Islanders to deliver very high-quality manufacturing in green energy. We should be proud of the role that the Island is playing. I thank Vestas for their investment and I’ll be working with them to make sure that we continue to develop the Island as a national hub of green energy.”
this is great news for the Island. Investment in a modern technology. So no doubt the usual moaning pitch fork and burn it with fire brigade will be along to complain as usual…..
Okay but what’s important here is what’s the pay like?