About the Eastern Wind Energy Group
The project has two primary goals:
To establish a supply chain with the capability to design, develop, test and supply components into the Wind Turbine market, allowing the companies involved the platform to break into this growth industry and showcase their products to manufacturers worldwide.
To leave the UK with an operational test unit which will be a platform to showcase and test future generations of innovation of turbine components. The unit could also be used as a training facility for installation and maintenance
Stages of implementation:
Stage 1 Ð Preparation of detailed feasibility study. Primary outcomes:
Market and competition evaluation
Group competence evaluation against project requirements
Identification of external support requirements and key challenges
Detailed cost evaluations and sensitivity analysis
Exploration of funding streams for stage 2 (public and private)
Investigation of Manufacturing site and supply routes
Detailed project timeline with gateways and costs established
Draft business plan to attract private funding
Stage 2 Ð Design, manufacture, and testing of key components and sub assemblies within the manufacturing companies associated with the program.
All components will be designed to feed into one common turbine design, which will ultimately become the test facility design (see stage 3)
Designs of components and the overall test facilities will be engineered simultaneously allowing improvements to be built in as the project evolves
Stage 3 Ð Assembly, Installation and accelerated testing of a test facility, sited on the shoreline to allow data to substitute for offshore conditions.
Where possible to use UK engineering and manufacturing companies for the components and the assembly of the test facility to allow the competencies to be developed in the UK.
Current estimated costs for stages 2 and 3 presently estimated at £8.7 Million, although this will be confirmed during stage 1.
Partners:
The majority of our partners are involved in the automotive, aerospace, power generation, oil & gas and marine industries
Many are seeking to diversify in order to grow over the long term. All have identified renewable energy as a growth market they can adapt products for, but have encountered difficulties breaking into the supply chains
We are working with wind turbine end users and supported by the BWEA, who are keen to support the group in order to increase both UK content and competition within the turbine marketplace.
Core competencies within the group:
Design and engineering
Drivetrain
Generator
Hydraulics
Electronics and controls
Bearings
Offshore support services (shipping, operations training, project services & offshore surveying)
Why the Eastern Region?
The largest offshore wind farms planned in the UK are off the East Coast
Dogger Bank Zone 9 GW
Norfolk Bank Zone 7.2 GW
Hornsea Zone 4 GW
Newly developed harbour facilities at Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft give perfect access to these offshore fields
Strong competencies in offshore oil and gas industries still exist in the region.
The region possesses a wide and diverse range of manufacturing and engineering businesses with skills and products which could easily be adapted to this industry.