By Renewable Energy Focus staff

Vestas says the facility is conditional on a satisfactory order intake on the V164-7.0 MW in the UK. The V164 offshore wind turbine is set to enter serial production in 2015.

The facility could see the creation of more than 2000 direct and indirect new jobs – provided the V164-7.0 MW order pipeline materialises as expected.

Need encouraging policy

“We have shown our intentions to make major investments and subsequent job creation, but it is evident that we don’t just jump head first into an investment of this size. We need to make sure it makes sense business wise,” says Anders Søe-Jensen, President of Vestas Offshore.

“Before our customers can provide us with the needed order pipeline, they need to see stability in the market and a long term political and regulatory certainty that ensures their business case. Making that happen lies in the hands of the policy makers, so we are looking forward to seeing the UK Government providing the best possible terms for the offshore wind industry to truly take off and the potential jobs becoming a reality”.

Vestas calls on the UK to ensure market and regulatory certainty from a transparent, long-term and stable policy framework; and public investment support to de-risk and reduce the large infrastructural investments required to build a facility of these proportions.

Kent welcomes Vestas

Paul Carter, the Leader of Kent County Council, comments on Vestas announcement: "This will make a massive difference for local people by creating new jobs and bringing much needed income and investment into the local economy.

“We have spent years working in partnership with the private and public sector to bring in the required infrastructure to Sheerness and the island which has helped Vestas and the Peel Group make this important decision.