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The contract has been awarded for the construction of a new wind turbine blade factory in Hull, which will provide larger blades for Siemens than the ones used on existing turbines.
VolkerFitzpatrick has secured the £82 million contract from Siemens Gamesa, which will involve the design and build of two new facilities and the repurposing of an existing facility at the Siemens plant in the city.
The factories will be very large, with a combined footprint of 43,362 sq m. Each structure will need to accommodate 40 m spans and 18 m height as well as substantial load-bearing capacity to accommodate the giant blades being made inside.
This will require specially-designed steelwork, and the process of assembling these huge workspaces will require the support of scaffolding companies in Hull.
As well as pre-cast piling, drainage and digging foundations before the huge steel frame structures can be out in place, the process will need to be finished with the installation of insulated roof and wall panels, followed by the electrical and mechanical fit-out.
The job will be completed in 2023, with VolkerFitzpatrick being chosen chiefly because they successfully delivered the existing 34,217 sq m blade factory in 2016.
Repurposing the existing factory will represent the second phase of the project, with the steel structure of the building being substantially altered to make it possible to get the larger blades in and out.
VolkerFitzpatrick said it would seek to minimise the carbon footprint of the development by re-using stone from the current site to minimise waste, while also supporting the local community by seeking to bring in trainees and much of the supply chains goods from the local area.
Managing director of the firm’s building division Stuart Deverill commented: “VolkerFitzpatrick has a long-standing, collaborative relationship with Siemens Gamesa, having worked together on its original blade factory in 2016.
“I am delighted that we have now been appointed to deliver these two new facilities and look forward to seeing the works progress over the coming months,” he added.
Head of Real Estate UK and IE for Siemens Gamesa Rob Bullen said the firm had “found that partner” that could match its ambition in Volker Fitzpatrick.
The expanded plant was announced by Siemens last month with government support, and the firm is not the only one helping make the Humberside area a centre of the North Sea offshore wind power industry.
Last month, Madrid-based GRI Renewable Industries announced plans to establish a plant at the Able Marine Energy Park in North Lincolnshire, which will provide 100 steel towers for the offshore wind sector every year.
Chairman and CEO of the company Jon Riberas said the joint £100 million investment with the UK government will create a “world leader” in offshore wind.
Welcoming the development, business and energy secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “With its close proximity to some of the world’s largest offshore wind farms and strong skills base, the Humber region is vitally important for the growth of British offshore wind.”
Major North Sea wind farms include the Westermost Rough and Humber Gateway arrays, both located off the East Yorkshire coast.
