Spanish wind giant Gamesa Corporación Tecnologíca S.A. will invest up to 150 million euros ($208.5 million) through 2014 to build a worldwide base for its offshore wind energy business in Britain.
The company’s offshore industrial plan to be implemented in 2011 involves establishing an offshore technology center and a wind turbine blade manufacturing plant.
Gamesa (BMA:GAM) will also locate the global headquarters of its offshore division in London to handle offshore wind sales, project management, finance and administration. The company will manage port logistics, turbine operations and maintenance services from different British ports.
Gamesa’s decision follows a £60 million ($95 million) funding allocated by the British government to build world-class offshore wind manufacturing facilities at port sites. Britain’s Department of Energy and Climate Change and the Crown Estate have agreed to support the development of ports infrastructure for offshore wind in the country.
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“Britain’s resolute decision to enact an ambitious offshore plan, along with the country’s support for foreign investment and the availability of large ports – which are essential in this business – convinced us to make the decision to base the global headquarters of our offshore activity in Britain,” said Jorge Calvet, chairman of Gamesa.
“This will involve sizeable investments in coming years and will generate local, skilled and sustainable jobs,” he added.
General Electric (NYSE:GE) and Siemens A.G. (NYSE:SI), have also reportedly confirmed plans to put up wind turbine factories in Britain,
“I want us to be a world leader in offshore wind energy. That’s why we’re committing public money to ensure we have the infrastructure that attracts major manufacturers to come here and build their offshore wind turbines,” said Primer Ministry David Cameron.
“The commitment shown by companies like Gamesa who want to come to Britain and invest is good news for jobs and growth and good news for our clean energy future,” Mr. Cameron continued.
Gamesa previously revealed plans to capitalize on the growing demand in the offshore wind market in Northern Europe, particularly in Britain, by 2015. The company is also developing offshore wind turbines of 6 megawatts to 7 MW capacity, with a pre-series potentially available by 2014.
Gamesa has installed over 19,000 MW of wind projects in 20 countries and has an annual manufacturing capacity of 4,000 MW.
