Scottish BiFab to build offshore wind foundations plant in England - report

(ADPnews) - Nov 4, 2010 - Scottish clean energy equipment maker Burntisland Fabrications (BiFab) plans to set up an offshore wind foundations factory in England as part of its expansion strategy, BusinessGreen.com reported yesterday, citing company official.

The move follows a foundations supply deal for a 576 MW offshore wind farm in North Wales, awarded to BiFab by RWE npower and confirmed on Tuesday.

BiFab's managing director, John Robertson, told the renewable news portal that he was in talks with a utility and a contractor to establish an English factory, without disclosing names. He added that the site would be chosen not sooner than the end of 2012.

The plant is planned to produce 150 offshore wind foundations per year at least, according to Robertson.

At present BiFab has two facilities in Scotland, a plant in Burntisland, which is being expanded for GBP 14.2 million (USD 22.9m/EUR 16.2m), and a plant on the Isle of Lewis, established to make wave and tidal equipment.

Robertson said also he was in negotiations with Norwegian firms to collaborate in the manufacture of floating wind turbine foundations for deeper offshore farms, adding that he was sceptical of entering a deal earlier than 2016.

(GBP 1 = USD 1.612/EUR 1.141)

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