AROUND BRITAIN INDIAN INVESTMENT

In 2011, Tata Steel announced its decision to invest £2m in the North East to meet demand from wind power fi rms.

NORTH EAST FACT-FILE AREA: 8,592km² POPULATION: 2.5m

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and it’s this expertise which now lends itself to the wind power sector. Industry along the River Tyne is also involved in the decommissioning of platforms – again, these skills can be directly transferred to offshore wind.”

INVESTMENT POTENTIAL Thanks to the growing profi le of the North East’s offshore wind sector, which is being supported by UK Trade & Investment and organisations such as NOF Energy and the recently formed local renewables group Energi Coast, it looks increasingly likely that a large overseas wind turbine manufacturer will open a facility there. This will develop the thousands of turbines that the new offshore wind farms will soon require, and, in turn, provide a huge boost to employment and generate wider business benefi ts for the region. German energy engineering giant Siemens, for example, recently

GROSS VALUE ADDED (GVA) PER CAPITA: £15,688 KEY SECTORS: New and renewable energy, low-carbon vehicles, healthcare and life sciences, chemicals and process industries, digital media and software

International airports: Newcastle and Durham Tees Valley

The investment in the Indian giant’s Hartlepool tube works will establish a central supply base for tubular sections used in the construction of wind turbines, helping to safeguard some 20 jobs. Director Ramsay Ross says: “This investment reinforces Tata Steel’s commitment to establishing a signifi cant presence as a supplier to the renewables sector as the drive to transform the energy supply scene in the EU gathers pace. “The [recently launched] wind tower hub in Scunthorpe to process and distribute steel plate for fabricators was a key step in this strategy. This separate development, in which we will be modifying buildings and investing in new assets at Hartlepool, is the next stage.” www.tatasteeleurope.com

TUBES FOR TEESIDE TUBULAR EXTENSION

announced its intention to build an £80m turbine manufacturing base in neighbouring Yorkshire & Humber and Medic feels that it is only a matter of time before similar foreign investments are made in the North East. “The North East is progressing towards a leadership position in this industry,” he concludes. “It has been very proactive in lobbying for the deployment of wind power technology and trying to build a supply chain on the back of it. When you talk to people in the region about the potential of the sector, there is a real sense of excitement and opportunity.” ■

LET’S DO BUSINESS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT the North

East’s offshore wind industry, contact David Coppock on 0191 497 8575 or email david.coppock@ukti.gsi.gov.uk Follow UKTI on

TAG Energy Solutions recently opened a £20m offshore wind turbine tubular production facility by the River Tees. The plant, established after Billingham- based TAG received support from UK Trade & Investment, is the fi rst of its kind in the UK, with capacity to produce 100,000 tonnes of tubulars each year.

Chief executive Alex Dawson said: “The [Government] has been very clear about the importance of offshore wind in the development of secure and clean energy resources. The North East has the skills and expertise to not only support this ambition in domestic waters, but also to become a hub for the global wind energy sector. “The opening of our facility sends a clear signal to the energy sector that we have the capabilities to deliver engineering solutions for offshore renewables. This is an exciting time for the renewables supply chain and we are delighted to be at its forefront.” www.tagenergysolutions.com

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