Vestas to repurpose Isle of Wight factory, UK, to manufacture onshore blades
News release from Vestas Wind Systems A/S
Aarhus, 11 December 2024
Since 2002, Vestas’ facilities on the Isle of Wight have played an integral role in the manufacture of turbine blades for wind projects across the world. At present, our factory focuses on manufacturing blades for the V174 offshore turbine. Demand for this product is coming to an end, and constraints at the site mean it is not suitable for the next generation of offshore blades.
However, following an agreement in principle with the UK Government, Vestas intends to repurpose the factory to build onshore blades, mainly to support the UK market. Vestas greatly appreciates that the current UK Government has leaned forward to enable this change.
This transition to onshore blades will see the facility help meet increased demand for onshore wind energy in the country, which has been boosted following the Government’s decision to remove the de facto onshore wind ban in England and with its focus on building domestic supply chains.
Current manufacturing operations at the Isle of Wight employ approximately 600 people across manufacturing, logistics and support functions. The agreement in principle with the UK government to transition to new activities will sustain approximately 300 jobs in manufacturing activities. In addition, Vestas will offer a significant number of opportunities in other parts of our business. These opportunities will include roles supporting UK operations and other Vestas factories.
Our technology activities which employ approximately 140 people on the island, are not impacted by this decision and will remain a company centre of excellence for blade research, design and development.
Anders Nielsen, Group CTOO of Vestas, said “We have invested in jobs and manufacturing activities on the Isle of Wight for more than two decades, and we have great pride in the technical expertise that has been developed at the site. We are pleased that this partnership in principle with the UK Government means we can continue manufacturing activities at the Isle of Wight to support the deployment of onshore wind in the UK. The commitment to domestic manufacturing and clean energy from the new government and Secretary of State has been instrumental in making this decision. My sincere gratitude goes to everyone working for us on the Isle of Wight, for their significant contribution to wind energy, and we are pleased to be retaining, and offering a significant number of opportunities for our impacted colleagues during this process.”
Vestas will now go into a consultation process with employee representatives and aims to have clarity for most employees by January 2025.
Following today’s announcement Vestas employs more than 33,000 globally and more than 1,500 in the United Kingdom across onshore and offshore activities.
For more information, please contact:
Kristian Holmelund Jakobsen
Lead Specialist, Communications and Press
Mail: krhja@vestas.com
Tel: +45 5221 1467
About Vestas
Vestas is the energy industry’s global partner on sustainable energy solutions. We design, manufacture, install, and service onshore and offshore wind turbines across the globe, and with more than 185 GW of wind turbines in 88 countries, we have installed more wind power than anyone else. Through our industry-leading smart data capabilities and unparalleled more than 154 GW of wind turbines under service, we use data to interpret, forecast, and exploit wind resources and deliver best-in-class wind power solutions. Together with our customers, Vestas’ more than 33,000 employees are bringing the world sustainable energy solutions to power a bright future.
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