Mitsubishi has announced that it is to invest £100m in a research and development facility for offshore wind turbines in the UK,creating 200 skilled jobs.

BWEA chief executive Maria McCaffery says: “This tremendous commitment from Mitsubishi and the UK government follows last week’s major announcement of the start of the new Clipper Windpower factory in Newcastle upon Tyne, which will be home to the largest wind turbine blade in the world.

“Last month Mabey Bridge announced a £40m investment in a completely new factory to build wind turbines in Chepstow. This all signals the rebirth of manufacturing in the UK with an estimated 70,000 green collar jobs to be created on the back of over £100bn of private sector investment. It is not an exaggeration to speak of offshore wind as the new North Sea oil.”