The latest £8 million funding for offshore wind technology was made available today as the Prime Minister hailed the UK as a 'global leader' in the offshore wind market.
The announcement came as Clipper Windpower confirmed that it is to start construction of a factory in Newcastle to build the biggest wind turbine blades in the world.
Visiting the site where Clipper today confirmed it will employ up to 500 people by 2020 to manufacture blades for the massive 10 megawatt 'Britannia' offshore wind turbine, the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, said: "I welcome Clipper's ground-breaking announcement to build the largest wind turbine blade in the world on the banks of the Tyne.
The UK is a global leader in offshore wind power, and the North East is at the forefront in providing the skills, expertise and enterprise to capitalise on this rapidly expanding market, which has the potential to create thousands of future green jobs.
"The combination of our strong natural wind resource and the substantial backing we’ve given the industry mean the investment conditions in the UK are unrivalled."
(CD/GK)
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