Siemens to invest £80 million in UK wind turbine plant

In what is being seen as a major step towards a new era of green, low-carbon economy, the UK government has received two big investment proposals in the environmental sector, one from the German industrial giant Siemens, and the other from British Gas.

With its announcement of a £80-million investment on a plant to build offshore wind turbines, Siemens has become the fourth wind turbine manufacturer. The plant would create about 700 new jobs.

Additionally, British Gas has proposed to roll out smart meters that will not only help consumers save energy but would also add 2,500 jobs.

Hailing the announcements the government claimed the announcements provided proof its strategy of attracting low carbon industry to the UK was working. According to a senior Downing Street official, the moves strongly vindicate the government's focus on creation of green jobs through an "active, industrial strategy".

The German company's announcement comes in the wake of a similar proposal by General Electric, whose proposed plant would generate around 2,000 jobs. There are also announcements by Mitsubishi and Clipper for setting up of new facilities for wind turbine manufacture.

The plans have been greeted by the Labour government as a vote of confidence in the offshore wind business currently accounting for only a tiny proportion of global wind turbine sales. The UK is looking to expand its offshore wind facilities in a bid to meet the targeted 15 per cent energy generation from renewable sources by 2020.