Chepstow wind turbine firm nets multi-million deal (From Free Press Series)

Chepstow wind turbine firm nets multi-million deal

9:40pm Friday 20th January 2012 in News By Melissa Jones

CHEPSTOW wind turbine manufacturer Mabey Bridge has secured a multi-million pound order.

The deal, its biggest yet, will see 170 staff work around the clock to produce 35 wind turbine towers for Nordex.

Production of the 120- tonne structures is to begin next month, and 14 of them will stay in Wales at the Pant-Y-Wal wind farm, near Rhondda.

This will be the first time turbine towers produced in Wales will be installed in the country. The company has announced it has taken on 45 new staff and transferred 50 from its bridge-building operation to meet demand.

Once up and running the turbines will generate up to 42 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 25,000 homes. The remaining 21 towers are set for installation at the Baillie wind farm on the north coast of Scotland.

These will have the power to meet the average energy needs of 35,000 households.

Mabey Bridge UK director Alex Smale said last year was challenging, but things are now looking up.

“Against this backdrop, the signing of a 35-tower deal with Nordex is a real boost for all the staff working at Mabey Bridge. We are very excited by the market currently and expect to make further announcements soon,” he said.