Ming Yang Smart Energy, a global leader in wind turbine technology, has announced its intention to establish Britain’s largest and first fully integrated wind turbine manufacturing facility in Scotland. The ambitious three-phase development could see up to £1.5 billion invested in offshore and floating offshore wind infrastructure, with the potential to create as many as 3,000 jobs over time.
The preferred location for the facility is Ardersier Port near Inverness, a site that offers strategic advantages including the opportunity to redeploy skilled workers from the oil and gas sector. Several other Scottish sites remain under consideration.
Ming Yang’s global footprint in offshore wind is significant, accounting for 31.3% of newly added capacity worldwide in 2024. Its flagship 16.6MW ‘Ocean X’ dual-rotor floating wind turbine platform is designed to cut offshore wind development costs by up to 30%, a move that could ultimately reduce household energy bills. The company’s expansion into the North Sea aims to accelerate the commercialisation of floating wind technology, strengthen the UK’s renewables supply chain, and position the country as a central hub for Europe’s wind energy sector.
The proposed facility would be developed in three phases. The first phase involves an investment of up to £750 million to build an advanced manufacturing plant for turbine nacelles and blades, with production expected to begin by late 2028. The second phase would expand the site to support large-scale deployment of floating offshore wind technology. The final phase envisions the creation of a full offshore wind ecosystem, including the manufacture of control systems, electronics, and other critical components.
Commercial discussionsMing Yang has been in dialogue with both the UK and Scottish governments for the past two years, and has held commercial discussions with Great British Energy, the National Wealth Fund, the Scottish National Investment Bank, the Crown Estate, and UK Export Finance. The investment remains subject to final government approvals and forms part of a broader pan-European strategy, with other potential locations also under review.
The announcement follows a strategic partnership revealed last month with Octopus Energy, aimed at delivering affordable clean energy to British households. The collaboration also includes plans to integrate Octopus Energy’s software to enhance data protection and cybersecurity across Ming Yang’s turbine platforms.
Zhang Chuanwei, founder and chairman of Ming Yang Group, said: “As a global leader in wind technology, we are committed to accelerating the global energy transition through innovation and community-focused comprehensive energy solutions. We are excited by the prospect of investing in the UK and look forward to finalising our investment decision.”
Aman Wang, UK CEO of Ming Yang Smart Energy, concluded: “We firmly believe that by moving forward with our plans to create jobs, skills and a supply chain in the UK, we can make this country the global hub for offshore wind technology. We fully support the Government’s mission to become a clean energy superpower, and I am confident that once the plans are approved we can make a valued contribution to this goal.”