Siemens is investing $220m in its first production facility for offshore wind turbine components in Germany.
The factory is to make nacelles for the company’s next-generation wind turbines, which are designed for use at sea and each have a capacity of 7MW.
The new factory in Cuxhaven, northwest Germany, will be one of Siemens’ most significant production facilities in the country in recent years and will create up to 1,000 jobs.
The 170,000 square metre production facility will be located directly at the edge of Cuxhaven’s harbour, allowing heavy components to be loaded directly onto transportation vessels.
The factory will handle the final assembly of generators, hubs and nacelle "back-ends".
Joe Kaeser, Siemens’ president, said: "The decision to build a production facility in Cuxhaven represents a clear commitment to Germany as a business location."
Siemens is also constructing a plant for rotor blades in Hull, in the north of England, for 6MW and 7MW wind turbines.
Work on the Cuxhaven plant is scheduled to begin later this year, with production of the first components to set for in 2017.
Image: A Siemens offshore wind farm in the UK (Siemens)
