The new positions have been created in order to fulfil the demand for DONG Energy’s 258 MW Burbo Bank Extension project, off the coast of Liverpool Bay in the UK, as well as potential future offshore projects.
CEO Jens Tommerup said the creation of over 200 skilled jobs underlines MHI Vestas Offshore Wind’s commitment to the UK offshore market
We are extremely pleased to be able to announce the commencement of hiring over 200 full time jobs at our manufacturing facility on the Isle of Wight. These new jobs are skilled and form a critical aspect of our manufacturing capability. When serial production begins in May, MHI Vestas Offshore Wind will be the only manufacturer producing blades for offshore wind projects in the UK.
The decision to manufacture blades on the Isle of Wight was announced in November last year and is the first part of a wider industrial strategy in the UK which is expected to result in up to £200m worth of investment and safeguarding or creating up to 800 jobs.
The Vestas R&D facility on the Isle of Wight was opened in 2011 and was specifically created to develop large blades for the latest wind turbines. The facility consists of two halls 170m long and 50m wide, one for testing and verification, and one for blade production, which will be leased by MHI Vestas Offshore Wind.
Serial production of the new blades will commence in May 2015.