The Rt Hon Ed Davey, Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change, joined Siemens global executives to mark ground-breaking on wind turbine manufacturing and assembly facilities in Hull, ABP says in its press release.
With its partner, Associated British Ports (ABP), Siemens is investing £310m in the development. The Siemens facilities will create 1,000 direct jobs and many more during the construction phase and in the supply chain.
The Secretary of State and Siemens executives were also joined by leaders from the European renewables industry to record an important milestone in the Hull project at the event, which had the theme “Engineering the Future”.
As work begins at Alexandra Dock it was announced that the first wind farm that would benefit from Hull is Dudgeon, off the Norfolk coast, which it is planned, will be able to use the facility and quayside for part of its installation.
ABP has appointed the GRAHAM Lagan Construction Group Joint Venture to develop the Alexandra Dock site for the Siemens facilities and significant enabling work has now begun. Work to be carried out by the joint venture contractors will include building three new berths and a roll-on, roll-off ramp.
Dependent on planning consent, construction of buildings for the blade manufacturing and wind turbine assembly facilities is due to begin in summer 2015, with production of the first blades scheduled for winter 2016. Siemens has already begun hiring for jobs based in Hull, with recruitment continuing through 2015 and 2016.