Siemens chooses Hull for wind turbine plant

HULL has been chosen by Siemens as the location for a major new wind turbine manufacturing plant.

The decision is a victory for the Green Port Hull initiative launched in December to make the city a new hub for the wind turbine industry and create 10,000 jobs for the region.

A statement issued this morning: “Siemens and Associated British Ports have announced today that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in connection with ABP’s proposed Green Port Hull development at Alexandra Dock, Port of Hull. 

“The parties have agreed to work together to develop plans for the construction of a new Siemens offshore wind turbine manufacturing and export facility at the Port with the aim of executing definitive agreements in 2011.”

Regional development agency Yorkshire Forward worked with Hull City Council to make the case to Siemens.

Simon Hill, executive director of business for Yorkshire Forward, said: “Today’s announcement by Siemens shows the importance to the major manufacturers in the wind industry of the large land banks in Associated British Ports in their Green Port Hull and at Able UK in their Marine Energy Park.

“Considerable land remains available on these sites and in other locations in the Humber, which are attracting further interest from suppliers to Siemens and many other companies that provide services and equipment to the new wind zones.

“This potential investment is a huge boost to the strong supply chain which exists in the region and the highly skilled workforce that reside here, adding to Yorkshire and Humber’s position as a centre for renewable energies industry, particularly for offshore wind.”

The announcement is being seen as a major step forward for the region’s ambition to be a leader in the growing green energy sector.

Phil Abram, KPMG’s northern head of energy and natural resources, said: “Hull and the wider Yorkshire region stand to reap significant economic benefits from the success of Associated British Ports in convincing Siemen’s to locate its manufacturing plant at Alexandra Dock.

“This is an exciting early sign of the regional stimulus that can come of growth in the manufacturing supply chain to the renewable energy sector as a result of the government’s policy to target a reduction in UK carbon emissions by 34% by 2020.

“Hull is successfully exploiting it’s industial heritage and geographical advantages, such as proximity to potential stores for captured carbon and the area’s heritage of power generation and engineering and I’m excited, not only that being at the forefront of low-carbon technology will create local employment opportunities at  but, that looking ahead, it offers the region the potential to be the home of expertise that can be exported.”