ENERGY and climate change minister Greg Barker blew into Worcestershire to visit the new turbine manufacturing plant of Endurance Wind Power at Hartlebury. The factory, just outside Kidderminster, will create up to 100 new green jobs and eventually build 100 farm-scale turbines a year, making it an international export hub. The minister joined Endurance chief executive Glenn Johnson, Mid-Worcestershire MP Sir Peter Luff, factory workers and more than 80 guests on a tour of the state of the art turbine production line to see first-hand how the British made 225kW X-Series turbine is assembled.

Mr Barker said: "Endurance’s new turbine manufacturing base is a great example of green growth here in the UK. Not only will this new facility create around 100 jobs and boost the West Midlands economy, it will unleash new opportunities to export British-made technologies to Europe and beyond. This innovative kit will also help people take energy generation into their own hands. I wish Endurance every success with its endeavours.”

Mr Johnson added: "By investing in this manufacturing facility, we’ve shown our long term commitment to the UK, particularly the rural economy which has been going through tough times in recent years. With continued, stable Government backing we can empower more and more farmers up and down the country to become more resilient and resource efficient, insulating their businesses from the risk of energy price shocks.”

Among the guests was the president of the Country Land and Business Association Henry Robins, who said: "Renewable energy has provided a great opportunity for CLA members to diversify in a difficult economic climate. CLA member Endurance Wind Power’s investment in a new manufacturing facility demonstrates the wider benefits that support for renewable technology can deliver for the UK economy. "

The visit followed a year of good news for farm-scale wind, with a recent industry report showing the sector doubled in size and brought £100m to the British economy. Endurance has recently installed its 500th UK turbine on an arable farm in Helperthorpe near York in North Yorkshire.

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