UK - E.ON awards offshore wind farm contract to TAG Energy

The contract will see the Teesside based manufacturing firm become the first UK manufacturer to secure a substantial monopile and transition piece project for a wind farm in British Waters.  An additional 60 people will be employed to deliver the contract.

Preparation work for the manufacturing of the sixteen, 60 metre long, 650 tonne monopiles and associated transition pieces will begin immediately at TAG Energy Solutions’ state-of-the-art production facility on the banks of the River Tees.

The first steel is expected to arrive in March and the contract is planned to be completed by quarter four 2013.

E.ON’s £736 million Humber Gateway wind farm, situated 8km off the Yorkshire Coast close to the mouth of the Humber Estuary, will consist of a 73 turbine array that will generate up to 219MW of electricity, enough energy to power up to 170,000 homes.

Edward Davey, UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, said: “Securing investment in clean energy that supports growth and jobs is an absolute priority. I want to congratulate TAG Energy Solutions on becoming the first UK manufacturer to secure a contract of this kind for a wind farm in British Waters. I hope that they are the first of many.

“The development of a thriving UK supply chain is vital to support our rapidly-growing offshore wind industry. The Government is working with industry so it can source at least half of the content for offshore wind projects from within the UK. This will help build the lasting legacy of a strong domestic offshore wind manufacturing capability.”

Tony Cocker, CEO of E.ON UK, said:  “We’re extremely pleased to be able to work with TAG on this very important next step in the construction of our Humber Gateway wind farm and to support local businesses in this way. I welcome TAG on board and hope that this is just the beginning of our organisations working together.”

Alex Dawson, Chief Executive of TAG Energy Solutions, said: “This high profile contract represents a significant achievement in TAG Energy Solutions development and the important role it plays in the manufacturing of components for the offshore renewables sector.  We are very pleased to be working with E.ON and this award demonstrates we have the skills, products and capabilities to serve the offshore wind industry.”

He added: “We are in the unique position of being the first, fully prepared British manufacturer to provide volume monopiles and transition pieces for UK wind farm developments. E.ON has demonstrated its confidence in TAG Energy Solutions and British manufacturing and we are very proud to be part of one of the country’s flagship wind farm developments.”

Construction on E.ON’s Humber Gateway is well underway, with first foundations expected this summer, and completion due in 2015.