Off-shore wind set to create 30,000 jobs in North-east

Expansion in offshore wind could create 30,000 manufacturing jobs in the North-east and bring £3bn of investment to the area, the government will say today.

Energy minister Malcolm Wicks will make the remarks during the official launch of the New and Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC) in Blyth, Northumberland.

The world’s largest wind turbine, which will be almost 10 times taller than the Angel of the North, is set to be developed at the facility by US energy company Clipper Wind.

Wicks said: “The New and Renewable Energy Centre is setting a fantastic example and I hope many other manufacturing companies will recognise the opportunities a shift to a low carbon economy will create.

“Offshore wind will play a significant role in helping us meet our challenging targets for a massive increase in the amount of energy generated from renewables.”

Margaret Fay, chairman of One NorthEast, added: “We are well placed to spearhead the UK’s development of offshore wind farms. The region has the skills in the offshore sector, the ready-made sites along the rivers for companies to utilise and public sector research and development support to turn the region into a European hub for the fabrication, assembly and delivery of offshore wind turbines.”