Endurance Wind Power has today welcomed Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker MP to its new turbine manufacturing plant in the West Midlands. The factory, in Hartlebury just outside Kidderminster, will create up to 100 new green jobs and eventually build 100 farm-scale turbines a year, becoming an international export hub.
The Minister joined Endurance CEO Glenn Johnson, local MP Sir Peter Luff, factory workers and over 80 guests on a tour of the state of the art turbine production line to see first-hand how the British made 225kW X-Series turbine is assembled.
This follows a year of good news for farm-scale wind, with a recent industry report showing the sector doubled in size and brought £100m to the British economy. Endurance has also confirmed today that it has successfully installed its 500th UK turbine on an arable farm in Helperthorpe near York in North Yorkshire.
The visit also comes on the same day trade body RenewableUK publicly launch their “Big 60,000” campaign, designed to raise awareness of farm-scale wind and the importance of the Feed-in Tariff in encouraging more individuals to install their own turbine and generate electricity.
The Rt Hon Greg Barker MP, Minister for Energy and Climate Change, said:
“Endurance’s new turbine manufacturing base in Hartlebury is a great example of green growth here in the UK. Not only will this new facility create around 100 jobs and boost the West Midlands economy, it will unleash new opportunities to export British-made technologies to Europe and beyond. This innovative kit will also help people take energy generation into their own hands. I wish Endurance every success with their endeavours.”
Glenn Johnson, Endurance CEO, said:
“I’m delighted to welcome the Minister to our new factory here in the heart of the West Midlands. By investing in this manufacturing facility, we’ve shown our long term commitment to the UK, particularly the rural economy which has been going through tough times in recent years. With continued, stable Government backing we can empower more and more farmers up and down the country to become more resilient and resource efficient, insulating their businesses from the risk of energy price shocks.”
Henry Robinson, President of the Country Land and Business Association, said:
“Renewable energy has provided a great opportunity for CLA members to diversify in a difficult economic climate. CLA member Endurance Wind Power’s investment in a new manufacturing facility demonstrates the wider benefits that support for renewable technology can deliver for the UK economy. We wish them well with their new Hartlebury facility which will no doubt provide a boost to the local economy and enable deployment of technology made in the UK.”
