The recent launch of the V164-7.0 MW, Vestas’ first ever purpose-built offshore turbine, introduced a turbine of epic proportions. A turbine with components of this size demands new manufacturing facilities and in order to prepare for the planned 2015 serial production of the new turbine Vestas has signed an agreement for 70 hectares of land at the Port of Sheerness in Kent, UK to eventually serve these purposes. 

The UK represents the world’s largest offshore wind market and as such has a massive offshore project pipeline. The UK Round 3 projects alone account for 32GW. Vestas is committed to working with the UK government and offshore wind stakeholders to turn this pipeline into operational offshore wind farms and thereby ensuring not only sustainable energy for the UK, but also a large number of new jobs being created.

Vestas is prepared to make the necessary significant investment in turning the option into a full lease and building the planned new production facilities, thereby creating more than 2000 direct and indirect new jobs – provided the V164-7.0 MW order pipeline materialises as expected.

Job creation is a two-way street

With this option agreement in place, Vestas has shown our willingness and commitment to making major investments benefitting the UK, but Vestas alone cannot make it happen.

“We have shown our intentions to make major investments and subsequent job creation, but it is evident that we don’t just jump head first into an investment of this size. We need to make sure it makes sense business wise,” says Anders Søe-Jensen, President of Vestas Offshore A/S and continues: “Before our customers can provide us with the needed order pipeline, they need to see stability in the market and a long term political and regulatory certainty that ensures their business case. Making that happen lies in the hands of the policy makers, so we are looking forward to seeing the UK government providing the best possible terms for the offshore wind industry to truly take off and the potential jobs becoming a reality”.

So, to secure the needed strong and predictable V164-7.0 MW order pipeline Vestas will be seeking two things:

- market and regulatory certainty from a transparent, long-term and stable policy framework
- and public investment support to de-risk and reduce the large infrastructural investments required to build a facility of these proportions. 
 

A press conference will be held at the Port of Sheerness, Kent at 11:00am UK time today where more details will be shared.

The conference will be taking place at:
Peel Ports – Medway
Archway House
Sheerness Docks
Sheerness
Kent ME12 1RS
United Kingdom

Practical details:

- Upon arrival at the dock entrance, please use the left hand lane and report to the security gate
- Please state you are here for the press conference at Archway House
- Security will direct you to Archway House Reception and Parking
- Upon arrival at Archway House please use the main entrance (reception) door where you will be met by a member of staff

Dial in details, should you not be able to attend:

Tel: +44 844 561 0081
Passcode: 8948190#

 

Facts on port option

The port option means that Vestas has secured exclusive rights to land, giving us the possibility in the future to invest in and build a fully integrated wind turbine manufacturing and installation facility. The option on the land lasts for approximately one year with possibility to extend another 12 months.

 

Contact details:

Vestas Offshore A/S, Denmark
Rikke Tikjoeb Christiansen, Vice President, Communications, Vestas Offshore
Telephone +45 4083 7583
Email ritic@vestas.com




 

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