Siemens Gamesa, a leader in the renewable energy industry, plans to double the size of its offshore blade facility in Hull. The company will invest $257m (£186m) to add more than 41,000m2 to the site, which remains the largest offshore wind manufacturing facility in the UK.

The investment will create 200 new direct jobs and will enable the production of next-generation blades. Siemens Gamesa established itself in Hull in 2016 and since then has produced more than 1,500 offshore wind turbine blades for customers worldwide.

Marc Becker, chief executive officer of the Siemens Gamesa offshore business unit, said in a company press release: “Since our offshore blade factory opened in Hull in 2016, Siemens Gamesa has proudly served as the catalyst for the powerful growth the area has seen. The rapid development of the offshore wind industry – and continued, strong, long-term support provided by the UK government for offshore wind – has enabled us to power ahead with confidence when making these plans. We are committed to unlocking the potential of wind energy around the globe, with solutions from Hull playing a vital role.”

Siemens Gamesa is headquartered in Zamudio, Spain, and employs 27,000 staff globally. The company has 75 offices worldwide, the majority of which are in Europe.