Mitsubishi to invest £100m in UK offshore wind R&D

Public and private investment into the UK offshore wind market is showing the UK is leading the world in wind. The UK Government has recently awarded £48.5 million funding for offshore wind R&D. This is one reason why overseas companies are coming to the UK. The latest company to do so Mitsubishi.

Mitsubishi has shown its intent to invest up to an additional £100 million in an offshore wind turbine project in the UK, in  which will create up to 200 highly skilled jobs.

A non binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between the UK Government and Mitsubishi Power Systems Europe Ltd (MPSE). The Government is working with MPSE, to award funding grants of up to £30 million to support the project.

This project will be the first step towards the production of turbines for the next generation of offshore wind farms. By working closely with Mitsubishi, the UK is a strong contender to be a manufacturing base for Mitsubishi in the future.

The UK is leading the way in offshore wind. This announcement demonstrates both the Government and private sector commitment to developing the industry in the UK. Mitsubishi will be working closely with UK based companies and organisations to develop the new technology.

The project will have three phases:

• Prototype assembly, onshore and offshore testing of Mitsubishi's 6MW second generation technology;
• Development of third generation offshore wind technology with the establishment of a UK-based Mitsubishi Offshore Wind Centre for Advanced Technology; and
• The design and development of large composite offshore  wind turbine blades, and associated production technique.

The UK Govenment has also announced new funding of £18.5 million for an offshore wind test site in Blyth, North East of England.

The site, off the coast near the New and Renewable Energy Centre (Narec) in Blyth, will act as a technology demonstration and development platform for the next generation of large multi-megawatt offshore wind turbines. This was set up with £80 million funding from the public and private sectors. It also complements Government support for a blade test facility in the North East that will enable the testing of blades up to 100m in length. These world-leading testing facilities will make the UK a prime location for companies such as Mitsubishi.

The facility will be comprised of 20 pre-consented "pods", at which users can deploy prototype or demonstration turbines and foundations.  The pods will be in four rows, increasing in distance offshore and with water depths of 15, 35, 45 and 55 metres to allow testing of alternative installation and foundation types. The Strategic Investment Fund will provide the primary infrastructure for the facility and will fast track the near shore development (first row of “pods”) to meet demand from manufacturers. The site will provide conditions representative of typical Round 3 offshore wind projects. Developers will be expected to pay a lease to use the site. The development of the site is subject to further planning consents and the site being granted a lease by the Crown Estate.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband said:

"This decision by Mitsubishi is a sign that the UK is starting to turn its leadership in offshore wind generation into leadership in manufacturing. We have the wind resource and we now have an industry that is really starting to grow. This is possible because of our domestic market and our commitment to support companies that locate here. It is another step to turning Britain into a leading green manufacturing centre.” 

Senior Executive Vice President Mr Ichiro Fukue and MPSE CEO Mr Akio Fukui said:

 “Mitsubishi Power Systems Europe is delighted to be working in partnership with the UK Government to create this exciting opportunity for the development of world-class offshore wind technology in the UK. MHI’s Ship Building division is interested in entering the offshore wind installation and operation and maintenance vessel market. We have been working with UK Trade & Investment for some time and we look forward to further growing our offshore wind business with UK-based partner and supply chain businesses from 2010, bringing much needed competition into the offshore wind turbine supply market, and economic benefit to the UK.”

For help and advise on how to enter any part of the growing UK offshore wind market, contact the DECC UK Renewables Service team at info@ukrenewables.com