Offshore wind tower manufacturing facility

CS Wind is to build a new offshore tower manufacturing facility in Campbeltown, Scotland, as a result of a multi-million pound investment from DONG Energy.

This investment will give DONG Energy preferred access rights to towers for its offshore windfarms. This will be the first facility in the UK that can manufacture towers for offshore wind turbines and will be located adjacent to CS Wind's current onshore facilities. It will be able to produce at least 50 towers a year and 70 jobs will be safeguarded as a result.

The investment will enable the contract for the first 95 towers built by CS Wind, which Siemens Wind Power has agreed to take, and will help in the establishment of a tower manufacturing facility in the UK.

Seong-Gon Gim, Chairman of CS Wind Corporation, said: "DONG Energy's investment is a clear indication that developers in the UK are committed to using UK suppliers and helping to strengthen the supply chain.”

"Thanks to our continuous effort to build an offshore facility in the UK and DONG Energy's significant contribution on investment, we are able to build this extension which will not only benefit other UK offshore wind farm developers but also secure 70 jobs in Campbeltown."

RenewableUK’s executive director, Emma Pinchbeck, said: “Offshore wind is already delivering major economic benefits to the UK. Building turbine towers in Britain is a big part of this.”

“Renewable energy is key part of the modern global economy, so the British offshore wind industry as a whole is looking just not at supplying innovative projects in UK waters, but also at opportunities to export around the world.”

Lindsay Roberts, senior policy Manager at Scottish Renewables, added: "“The announcement of this significant industrial development is fantastic news for CS Wind and for Campbeltown.”

“The company is a significant employer in Argyll and this latest investment safeguards high-value skilled jobs at the site, as well as demonstrating that Scottish supply chain companies can successfully compete in this global market, supplying vital components to onshore and offshore wind projects across the UK.

“Scotland has world-class expertise in offshore engineering and a mature offshore energies supply chain which is ideally placed to serve this exciting new market.”