Britain’s first factory making turbine blades for offshore wind farms will go into production in Newcastle this year, the US renewables group Clipper Windpower said. The 4000 sq m plant on the banks of the River Tyne, will develop and build blades for the “Britannia Project”, the 10MW turbine with 72m, 30 tonne blades being developed by Clipper. By 2020, the plant is expected to employ up to 500 people. The plan is backed by a £4.5 million government grant, awarded in September 2009, for developing both the blades and also gearbox technology for the extra-large turbines.

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The Danish company Vestas Wind Systems closed its plant on the Isle of Wight in 2009, which made blades for onshore wind farms. Clipper’s plant will be both Britain’s first offshore blade factory, and its only turbine maker.