Siemens targets UK for £80m wind turbine factory

German manufacturing giant Siemens is to build a new £80m wind turbine factory in the UK. The production facility could be built on the east coast or in the north […]

German manufacturing giant Siemens is to build a new £80m wind turbine factory in the UK.

The production facility could be built on the east coast or in the north east of England and a Siemens spokesman said it was hoped it would be operational by 2014, with the first turbines turning by 2015.

Friends of the Earth’s executive director Andy Atkins said it was “fantastic news” but added that “it should only be the beginning – the next government must make the creation of a low-carbon future an urgent priority”.

Siemens is considering a number of sites in the UK to meet future demand for renewable energy sources and is working closely with regional development agencies.

Siemens’ president and chief executive Peter Loscher said: “In the foreseeable future the wind power market in the UK will be characterised by major offshore projects, and we’ll extend our market leadership with the new production plant.”

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