CS Wind and Vattenfall sign windfarm MoU

CS Wind UK will have the opportunity to tender for tower supply contracts on future onshore projects

CS Wind UK, the Scottish wind turbine tower fabricator, and Swedish state-owned wind farm developer Vattenfall have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for potential future contract and supply opportunities for Vattenfall’s UK development pipeline.

The MoU means that Vattenfall will give CS Wind UK the opportunity to tender for tower supply contracts on future Vattenfall onshore wind farm projects. Vattenfall has also committed to discuss further opportunities associated with its UK offshore wind projects.

CS Wind UK is due to break ground on a new £27 million expansion at its 15-year-old Campbeltown facility. The investment will increase production volume for onshore wind and allow for the fabrication of larger diameter towers for the offshore wind sector. The facility upgrade follows the acquisition in April this year of Wind Towers (Scotland) by the South Korean manufacturer CS Wind Corporation.

Vattenfall has a number of onshore wind farms in development in the UK. If constructed, its onshore wind farm development projects in Scotland alone would require in excess of 100 towers. Vattenfall is also developing the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre, off Aberdeen, with 11 turbines and is due to start the planning process on its 1.8GW Norfolk Vanguard in the southern North Sea.

Lesley Black, head of UK sales for CS Wind, said: “This MoU with Vattenfall is another strong signal that UK manufacturers and suppliers have an important part to play in the development of windfarm projects. It is encouraging that developers like Vattenfall who are looking to develop projects in the UK are using UK suppliers where possible for large components and thereby, securing jobs and a long term future for the local economies.”

Guy Mortimer, Vattenfall’s head of onshore wind development in the UK, added: “The Scottish onshore wind sector has grown significantly and made an important economic contribution in Scotland thanks to continued Scottish Government support. We hope that the offshore wind sector will follow suit. As a result major companies like CS Wind UK, employing nearly 200 local people, are making substantial investments in the Scottish economy. Vattenfall is developing a number of onshore wind farms in the UK and so we welcome this opportunity to support and co-operate with CS Wind UK and help it continue its Scottish economic success.”