MHI Vestas Offshore Wind is repurposing a decommissioned oil-fired power plant into a new painting and logistics facility for its 80-meter wind turbine blades.
The company has announced it will soon be operating at the site of the former Fawley Power Plant, which is located in Hampshire, England, and was decommissioned in 2015.
The new facility will complement MHI Vestas’ manufacturing hub on the Isle of Wight, where the 80-meter blades are manufactured. This investment is a direct result of strong demand for the V164 offshore wind turbine platform, the company says.
With construction beginning this month, the new building is expected to begin operations in April 2018 and create 30-50 jobs. Upon the opening of the facility, MHI Vestas will have grown to approximately 600 employees in the U.K., compared with 110 in 2014.
The expansion comes as part of a larger community revitalization plan from the site’s owner, Fawley Waterside Ltd.
“We are delighted to welcome MHI Vestas Offshore Wind as the start of our employment-focused plan for the site,” comments Aldred Drummond, CEO of Fawley Waterside. “Fawley Waterside has enormous potential to be a major contributor to the wider economy, and we are delighted to have a world leader in offshore wind energy and advanced composites join our vision to revitalize the area and further their investment in the Solent region.”
