MHI Vestas, a joint venture designed to bring about the commercialization of the massive V164-8.0 MW offshore wind turbine, seeks to start serial production of 80-meter blades as early as the second quarter of 2015.
According to MHI Vestas, the plant will be located on the Isle of Wight, located off the southern coast of the U.K. The announcement is the first part of a wider industrialization strategy in the U.K. that is expected to boost the economy and create up to 800 jobs.
As part of the plan, MHI Vestas Offshore Wind says it will lease the production hall located at Vestas' blades technology center on the Isle of Wight beginning Jan. 1, 2015. Production of blades could commence in the second quarter of 2015 depending upon a pipeline of firm and unconditional orders, notes the companies.
For its part, Vestas will continue to conduct research and development (R&D) of blade technology on the Isle of Wight, including the testing and verification of the V164-8.0 MW which is being finalized by Vestas on behalf of MHI Vestas Offshore Wind. Lease the production hall will have no impact on Vestas employees working on R&D initiatives at the site, the company says.
