Huhne hails Gamesa’s renewable commitment to UK

Energy Secretary Chris Huhne has hailed the commitment to the UK renewables sector of Spanish firm Gamesa. Within hours of this week’s £60m ports plan being given the go-ahead by […]

Energy Secretary Chris Huhne has hailed the commitment to the UK renewables sector of Spanish firm Gamesa.

Within hours of this week’s £60m ports plan being given the go-ahead by Prime Minister David Cameron, Spanish wind turbine giant Gamesa revealed massive offshore investment plans for the UK.

Gamesa, which has more than 18,000 MW installed in 20 countries on four continents, said it would create a research and development centre for offshore wind and a turbine manufacturing plant at two separate sites in the UK. It also plans to base its global offshore HQ in London.

The company’s chairman Jorge Calvert said this week: “The UK’s resolute decision to enact an ambitious offshore plan, along with the country’s support for foreign investment and the availability of large ports, which are essential in this business, convinced us to make the decision to base the global headquarters of our offshore activity in the UK.”

Gamesa is the third company to pin its offshore ambitions to the ports plan. Already Siemens and GE have unveiled proposals for turbine factories in the north east.

And Energy Secretary Mr Huhne yesterday praised all three firms. In an email to Liberal Democrat Party members he said: “I am delighted that three global firms – GE, Siemens and Gamesa – have responded [to the £60m ports plan] by outlining proposals to invest hundreds of millions of pounds in opening new wind turbine factories in the UK, creating thousands of jobs and providing clean energy for Britain’s homes and factories.”

He went on to say that “the last week has been tough. None of us came into government to make cuts. Throughout the spending review, as Liberal Democrats and as a government, we’ve had to make some difficult decisions.”

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