Giant wind blade testing facility to be built

The site will test wind turbines with blades three times larger than the Angel of the North's wingspan

A turbine testing facility will be built in north east England as part of an £86m investment in wind power, the government has said.

Based at the Catapult National Renewable Energy Centre in Blyth, it will test turbines with blades as long as 500ft (150m); three times the wingspan of the Angel of the North.

Designed to replicate harsh conditions at sea, it will be able to accommodate even larger blades if future technology requires it.

Science minister Andrew Griffith said the project would create "highly skilled and highly paid" jobs.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said the existing 100-metre blade test site at Blyth will be repurposed to increase capacity.

"This will mean the facility is capable of testing the largest blades currently on the market and in near-future development."

The Blyth facility will be expanded to allow testing of the largest blades

Dr Adam Staines, infrastructure portfolio director at UK Research Innovation (UKRI), said the project could help support "greater energy independence".

He added: "The project in Blyth demonstrates that investment in the right infrastructure can reduce CO2, support greater energy independence and drive economic benefits."

The government said the project would also help to upgrade the drive train test facility which tests turbine generators.

Currently operating at 15 megawatts (MW), it would enable power to increase to 23MW, with a view to reaching 28MW should the industry require it over time.