GE Renewable Energy abandons plan for Teesside blade factory - report

GE Renewable Energy has cancelled plans for the construction of an offshore wind blade manufacturing plant on Teesside, northeastern England, The Northern Echo reports.

The US manufacturer has told local authorities it has decided not to move forward with the plan due to a lack of volume. Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen, meanwhile, was quoted as saying that the plan has been scrapped as the General Electric unit has failed to secure enough orders with potential clients.

The factory, which had been planned to be operated by LM Wind Power, was intended to produce 107-metre (351.1-ft) blades for GE’s Haliade-X offshore wind turbines. GE secured planning approval in 2021 and aimed to kick off operations at the site in 2023. The facility was set to become the production base for the 3.6-GW Dogger Bank offshore wind farm’s blades following a firm deal placed in September 2021.

GE’s withdrawal was announced a day after South Korean steel manufacturer SeAH Steel Holdings (KRX:003030) kicked off the construction of a monopile factory at the Teesside Freeport. According to the report, SeAH has taken a site originally meant to be used by GE, while the latter has been offered a neighboring site as a replacement.

Previously, LM Wind Power had announced certain delays for its project related to the finalisation of the leasing agreement for the blade facility.

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