The manufacturer of the turbines and blades for what will be Scotland’s largest offshore wind farm has confirmed that 87% of the blades are set for production in the UK. Of the 114 V164 blade sets required for the 1075 MW Seagreen project, Vestas will produce 99 blade sets (or 297 blades in total) domestically, ready for installation off the Angus coast by the end of 2022. Production by Vestas is currently underway at its blade factory and R&D centre in Newport on the Isle of Wight. The Seagreen project is a £3bn joint venture project between TotalEnergies (51%) and SSE Renewables (49%).

For further information
www.sserenewables.com

Kloeckner Metals has won a multi-million pound contract from BYLOR to produce embedment sleeves for the Hinkley Point C power station. Part of the global Klöckner & Co Group, Kloeckner Metals UK is a multi-metals processing supplier certified to Fit 4 Nuclear (F4N). This newly awarded contract will see Kloeckner Metals UK supply processed and coated embedment sleeves to tier-one contractor BYLOR, a Laing O’Rourke and Bouygues TP joint venture. Two local southwest businesses will assist Kloeckner Metals UK with the coating of the embedment sleeves.

For further information
www.kloecknermetalsuk.com

Coventry University’s reputation as a leader in clean mobility has received a boost following its selection as part of a €7m project that will help develop hydrogen-powered mass passenger coaches. The Centre for Advanced Low Carbon Propulsion Systems (C-ALPS) is now one of the ‘CoacHyfied’ partners, a 14-strong consortium led by higher education and engineering partners which is determined to develop new technology that could eliminate up to 1.4 million tonnes of CO2 generated by diesel-fuelled coaches in the UK alone. C-ALPS is investing £2m into developing a world-class hydrogen fuel cell development facility.

For further information www.coventry.ac.uk/c-alps

Efinor, which specialises in stainless steel parts, structural work and mechanical systems, is opening a manufacturing and technology centre near Bristol in order to support the UK nuclear programme. This new addition to Efinor’s capabilities in the UK will help the company secure the delivery of customer projects, propose new services locally and foster innovation. Activities started in the first quarter of 2021, and will continue to develop further during the rest of this year as the business requires. The first endeavours will concern manufacturing operations, supporting the HPC programme for customers BYLOR and NNB.

For further information
www.efinor.co.uk

Engineering and fabrication specialist WEC Group has announced a major apprenticeship recruitment drive at its £3m, 25,000 sq ft engineering and welding academy in Blackburn, as well as its Knowsley, Rotherham, Coventry and Sherburn-In-Elmet based divisions. A total of 53 new apprentice vacancies are currently required for its September intake, double that of last year. Since starting its apprenticeship scheme in 2006, WEC Group has grown from 200 employees to over 900, creating a loyal workforce by harnessing fresh talent and skills.

For further information
www.wec-group.com