Siemens Gamesa planning New York nacelle facility for offshore wind turbines

Siemens Gamesa has announced its intention to build a nacelle manufacturing facility for offshore wind turbines in New York state, subject to the company’s wind turbines being selected by the New York authorities in their third offshore wind solicitation.

The facility will be located at the Port of Coeymans. It would create up to approximately 420 direct jobs, support a significant rise in indirect jobs, and represent an investment of around US$500M in the region.

Siemens Gamesa is also committing to ‘localising’ several new component supplier facilities, including steel component fabrication, bearings and composite components, to develop a sustainable local supply chain. This could help double the number of jobs created by the facility.

New York expects to procure a minimum of 2 GW of offshore wind energy, and up to 4.7 GW in its third round of procurement to achieve a total of 9 GW of offshore wind energy. This is a significant part of the United States’ target to realise 30 GW of offshore wind power by 2030.

The announcement builds on Siemens Gamesa’s record of establishing manufacturing facilities in markets with attractive and stable frameworks. Siemens Gamesa has secured a site in the state’s capital region, and advanced engineering plans and 3D visualisations have already been developed. The facility has been designed with the capacity for potential expansion to guarantee its long-term development.

Siemens Gamesa offshore wind chief executive Marc Becker said, “A nacelle facility in New York is a major step forward in our desire to lead the massive US offshore wind market.

“We are excited by the opportunity presented by the State of New York to further develop our manufacturing footprint. We have a solid history in delivering on our commitments across the globe, including the establishment of offshore wind-focused plants in Denmark, France, Germany, Taiwan and the UK. The numerous economic, employment, and environmental benefits that offshore wind presents are enhanced by solid policies and frameworks, which are critical for financial success.”

The proposed facility and supplier network in New York would supply components for all Siemens Gamesa offshore wind power projects along the US east coast.

The company said the nacelle facility solidifies its commitment and plans for manufacturing and job creation in the US and is “part of the company’s integrated plan to localise its offshore wind supply chain on the US east coast and build upon its planned turbine blade finishing facility in Portsmouth, Virginia, as announced in October 2021.”