Pipe maker SeAH Wind reveals 2000-plus job Teesworks wind turbine factory plans

A wind turbine parts maker has unveiled plans to create a £300 million Teesside factory it says will support more than 2000 jobs.

SeAH Wind has agreed a deal to build the “world’s largest monopile plant for offshore wind turbines” on Teesworks, near Redcar.

Bosses say the factory – expected to be fully operational by 2026 – will create 750 direct jobs and support a further 1500 construction and supply chain posts.

They also say it will make between 100 and 150 of the giant structures every year, with a number expected to be used on the North Sea-based Dogger Bank development.

Monopiles are large steel tubes that form the foundations of wind turbines.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen [pictured above left, with Redcar MP Jacob Young] said work will begin on the factory in the summer.

He said: “This is another transformational project that places Teesside as the UK lead for clean, green manufacturing.

“SeAH is an internationally recognised manufacturing company with an incredible reputation for quality and it’s a real coup that we’ve been able to secure their investment for Teesside.

“Spades will be in the ground for this factory at the beginning of July.

“Teesworks is quickly becoming a site of firsts – it’s the heart of the first UK freeport; we’re developing the world’s first decarbonised industrial cluster thanks to Net Zero Teesside; and we’re now the first area in the UK to be home to a monopile plant.

“We’ve only secured these milestones by going further, faster and we’re working round the clock to get the jobs local people are crying out for on the site as soon as possible.”

He added the factory will sit alongside the under-development South Bank Quay at Teesworks.

Joosung Lee, SeAH Steel Holdings chief executive and president, said: “When we confirmed our UK investment, the aim was to contribute to the UK offshore wind industry by working with the Government.

“We are pleased to take the first, yet significant, step for this goal in Teesside.

“We will endeavour to make our factory globally competitive, as well as become a good member of the community.”