REpower signs turbine towers deal with Welsh firm

REPOWER UK, the British division of the German renewable energy giant, has signed an agreement to buy most of its wind turbine towers from a domestic manufacturer.

Edinburgh-headquartered REpower previously sourced the towers from its German parent company but yesterday revealed a deal with Welsh manufacturer Mabey Bridge.

Rick Eggleston, managing director of REpower UK, said the firm had been seeking for some time to buy the towers for its UK wind farms from a British manufacturer.

He said: "This agreement gives us a real boost in serving the needs of our clients and will improve our competitiveness in a tough UK market.

"Local procurement of the towers from a reliable UK manufacturer makes sense."

The agreement follows hot on the heels of an announcement by Mabey Bridge that it is investing 38 million in a new facility in Monmouthshire, Wales, creating 240 jobs.

REpower, which employs 60 people in the UK, will continue to source wind turbine blades and housings from its parent company's factories across Europe.

Eggleston said he was confident of meeting the firm's target of delivering 400 megawatts of wind energy by the spring.