In 2014, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) unveiled plans to establish a new 40,000 sq. m facility in Hull, in collaboration with Associated British Ports.
Following completion of the pioneering £310m wind turbine blade factory, along with the complementary port infrastructure, the initial consignment of blades embarked on its journey from Hull’s Alexandra Dock to the North Sea’s Race Bank wind farm in January 2017. The factory has since been instrumental in producing nearly 2,000 blades for various projects across Europe, consolidating its pivotal role as the linchpin of the Green Port Hull project. The investment has in turn created 1,000 job opportunities, with 98% of the workforce drawn from within a 30-mile radius of the factory.
Credit: Siemens Gamesa
In 2023, to accommodate increased production capacity, Siemens Gamesa expanded its offshore blade factory by 41,600 sq. m, more than doubling its manufacturing capacity. Remaining the largest offshore wind manufacturing facility in the UK, the expansion represents an investment of £186m into the local area. The factory extension falls within the confines of the Hull East Freeport Tax Sites, enabling the company to benefit from tax relief.
The Hull Blade Factory serves as a pioneering force in the Humber region’s transition towards a sustainable and eco-friendly energy landscape.