By Renewable Energy Focus staff

The framework agreement is worth around £30 million.

National contractor Shepherd Construction has secured a framework contract with the National Renewable Energy Centre (Narec), based in Blyth, Northumberland.

The three buildings are:

• A 127 m by 25 m facility for testing new designs of wind turbine blades up to 100 m long;
• A 41 m by 15 m facility for marine renewable testing facility to be built over an existing dry dock; and
• A 72 m by 31 m wind turbine drive train testing facility for the performance and reliability testing of entire wind turbine nacelles up to 15 MW capacity.

Initial site works have now started and construction is expected to commence in the coming weeks.

Tony Quinn, Director of Major Assets and Projects at Narec, says: “These new national facilities will build on Narec’s testing and technology development capabilities to accelerate the technology development and reliability of new wind and marine machines, before they are deployed offshore. We have been impressed by Shepherd’s understanding of the future operation of the facilities and look forward to working with them as part of the further regeneration of the riverside site in Blyth.”