A newly opened £38M wind turbine factory in Chepstow, South Wales, has started sending out deliveries of its first 150 tonne turbines this week, in what Carwyn Jones, First Minister for the Welsh government called -a significant day for the renewables sector in Wales.’
Engineering firm, Mabey Bridge, which has traditionally specialised in bridge structures and heavy steelwork, has moved into wind turbine production, creating an additional 240 jobs, in a boost for the Gwent economy.
The first delivery of nine turbines went out to turbine supplier Repower, who are delivering them to the Marr windfarm in South Yorkshire, operated by Banks Renewables. A five year manufacturing agreement has just been signed with Dutch company EWT to produce a number of wind turbines ranging from 40-75m in height.
Visiting the new facility, Carwyn Jones said the the it was a ‘massive show of confidence in Wales as a base for major manufacturing…these are highly skilled green jobs that will make a huge contribution to our economy.’