E.ON and TAG Energy Solutions has today announced that TAG has been awarded a contract to manufacture 16 monopiles and transition pieces for E.ON's Humber Gateway offshore wind farm.

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.

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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: "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 closely with industry to help fulfil its ambition to source at least half of all project content from within the UK. This will help build the lasting legacy of a strong domestic offshore wind manufacturing capability."

(CD)