The first ever wind turbine blades manufactured at the Siemens blade factory in Hull are en route to Race Bank Offshore Wind Farm, located off the North Norfolk coast.
The Siemens blade factory in Hull officially opened in December 2016 and the first blades to have been manufactured at the site are now ready for installation at Race Bank.
The blades have been loaded onto the Sea Installer vessel, and will make their way from the Port of Hull to the Race Bank site for installation.
Matthew Wright, Managing Director for DONG Energy UK, said:
“This is a fantastic moment, not just for Race Bank, but for the whole offshore wind industry in the U.K. To see the first blades made in Hull now loaded out and ready for installation at our project really underlines the strength of the U.K. supply chain to support the growth of offshore wind in this country.
“When complete, Race Bank will be capable of powering over half a million homes with green energy and this is another major success story for offshore wind, bringing jobs and investment across the North of the U.K..”
Clark MacFarlane, Managing Director Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy UK, said:
“We are delighted to see DONG Energy’s Race Bank development receiving blades made in Hull. This first load out represents a significant milestone in the story of how, in just a few years, we have helped increase the UK economic benefit of lower cost Offshore Wind and help make the Humber region a hub for low-cost, green energy expertise.”
Installation of the blades and rest of the components is on track with 25 turbines installed to date. Race Bank is expected to be fully operational in 2018.
Blades being manufactured in Hull is only one part of a dedicated focus by DONG Energy and Race Bank to use UK suppliers and this includes the array cables – which connect each of the wind turbines to the main export cable that transmits electricity back to shore – where three different UK companies have been contracted.
Last year, DONG Energy also announced plans for a GBP multi-million investment in Grimsby to create the UK’s largest offshore wind operations and maintenance hub.
Facts about Race Bank Offshore Wind Farm:
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- Owned by DONG Energy (50%), Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund 5 (25%), Macquarie Capital (12.5%) and Sumitomo Corporation (12.5%)
- Located approximately 16.8 miles off Blakeney Point on the North Norfolk coast and 17.4 miles off the Lincolnshire coast at Chapel St Leonards
- Covers a total area of 75km2
- Consists of 91 Siemens 6 megawatt (MW) turbines
- Total capacity of 573MW, producing enough electricity to power over half a million UK homes annually
ABOUT DONG Energy
DONG Energy (NASDAQ OMX: DENERG) is one of Northern Europe’s leading energy groups and is headquartered in Denmark. Around 6,200 ambitious employees, including over 900 in the UK, develop, construct and operate offshore wind farms, generate power and heat from our power stations as well as supply and trade in energy to wholesale, business and residential customers. The continuing part of the Group has approximately 5,800 employees and generated a revenue in 2016 of DKK 61 billion (EUR 8.2 billion).
For further information, see www.dongenergy.co.uk or follow us @DONGEnergyUK on Twitter.
About Macquarie:
Macquarie Group Limited (Macquarie) is a diversified financial group providing clients with asset management and finance, banking, advisory and risk and capital solutions across debt, equity and commodities. Macquarie has been an active investor and adviser in the renewable energy and clean technology sectors for over 15 years. Drawing on its global network, sector expertise and strong record, Macquarie is supporting the transition to a lower carbon economy by servicing clients across various renewable energy technologies. Since 2010 Macquarie and Macquarie-managed funds have invested or arranged over £8.5 billion of capital into renewable projects globally.
Founded in 1969, Macquarie employs more than 13,500 people in over 27 countries. At 31 March 2017, Macquarie had assets under management of £294 billion. For further information on Macquarie’s renewable energy activities, visit http://www.macquarie.com/renewables.
About Macquarie Capital:
Macquarie Capital is the advisory, capital markets and principal investment arm of Macquarie Group. Macquarie Capital provides strategic M&A and capital raising advice as well as partnering with clients by investing capital into their projects and companies. Globally Macquarie Capital focuses on six core sectors: infrastructure, utilities and renewables; real estate; telecommunications, media, entertainment and technology; resources; industrials; and financial institutions, with 417 transactions completed, valued at £93 billion in the year to 31 March 2017. In Europe, Macquarie Capital has a strong track record in partnering with utilities and developers in building new energy, infrastructure and real estate projects.
About Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund 5 (MEIF5):
MEIF5 is a €4 billion Euro denominated fund focused on investment opportunities in utilities, transportation, communications infrastructure and renewable energy throughout Europe and is managed by Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA). MIRA is part of Macquarie Asset Management, the asset management arm of Macquarie. MIRA pioneered infrastructure as a new asset class for institutional investors. For more than 20 years we have been investing in and managing the assets that people use every day – extending beyond Infrastructure to Real Estate, Agriculture and Energy. Our dedicated operational and financial experts work where MIRA’s funds invest and their portfolio companies operate. They are part of a far reaching global team which helps clients to see across the regions and deep into local markets. MIRA has assets under management of £94.1 billion invested in 129 portfolio businesses, ~300 properties and 4.5m hectares of farmland.*
(*figures as at 31 March 2017)
About Sumitomo Corporation:
Sumitomo Corporation (“SC”) is a leading Fortune 500 global trading and business investment company with 109 locations in 66 countries and 22 locations in Japan. The entire SC Group consists of more than 800 companies and nearly 70,000 personnel. SC conducts commodity transactions in all industries utilizing worldwide networks, provides related customers with various financing, serves as an organizer and a coordinator for various projects, and invests in companies to promote greater growth potential. SC’s core business areas include Metal Products, Transportation and Construction Systems, Environment and Infrastructure, Media, Network, Lifestyle Related Goods and Services, Mineral Resources, Energy, and Chemical and Electronics.
For further information, see http://www.sumitomocorp.co.jp/english/
