— By Plasteurope.com staff — 

A lack of orders for offshore wind turbines with a previous standard rotor-blade length of 85 m is forcing Vestas Wind Systems (Aarhus, Denmark; www.vestas.com) to significantly downsize its production facility on the Isle of Wight, just off the coast from Southampton. The wind turbine manufacturer explained that the plant was not designed for the modern, longer rotors of the next generation. The test and prototype construction facility, located a few kilometres down the River Medina and employing 140 people, has not been affected by the decision.

The company has been dealing with slumps since 2022 when it reported a EUR 1.57 bn loss compared with a EUR 143 mn profit only one year prior. Key challenges included the war in Ukraine, plant closures, high inflation, and declining demand, with one-off costs amounting to nearly EUR 450 mn.

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An agreement in principle with the UK government is intended to preserve half of the 600 jobs focused on the processing of glass and carbon fibre-reinforced plastics. Vestas wants to switch part of its production to the smaller rotors designed for use on the British mainland. The reason for this is Westminster’s decision to lift the current de facto ban on the installation of wind turbines, which is boosting demand. Vestas intends to offer those affected by the job cuts positions at other UK plants and branches.

In total, the wind turbine manufacturer employs 33,000 people worldwide, 1,500 of them in the UK.