Ming Yang to Invest £1.5 Billion in the UK’s First Offshore Wind Factory

Chinese wind giant Ming Yang Smart Energy announced a landmark plan to establish the UK’s first fully integrated offshore wind turbine manufacturing facility in Scotland, pledging up to £1.5 billion in investment and 1,500 new jobs, with potential for an additional 1,500 in later phases.

The project - currently considering sites across Scotland, with Ardersier Port near Inverness as the preferred location - marks one of the largest industrial clean energy investments ever proposed in the UK. The site would repurpose existing oil and gas infrastructure, supporting a “just transition” for workers moving into renewables.

Ming Yang, which accounted for 31.3% of global new offshore wind capacity in 2024, said the three-phase development will anchor key parts of the offshore wind supply chain in Britain:

Phase 1: Up to £750 million for a nacelle and blade manufacturing plant, with production beginning in late 2028. Phase 2: Expansion to support floating offshore wind technology at scale in UK waters. Phase 3: Creation of an industrial ecosystem producing control systems, electronics, and other key components.

The facility would produce turbines for both UK and export markets, making Scotland a strategic base for the company’s European operations. Ming Yang’s “Ocean X” 16.6 MW dual-rotor floating turbine, the largest of its kind, could cut offshore wind costs by up to 30%, helping to lower household energy bills.

Related: Oil Prices Rebound After a Sharp Selloff

The company has been in talks with the UK and Scottish Governments, as well as Great British Energy, the National Wealth Fund, the Scottish National Investment Bank, the Crown Estate, and UK Export Finance. The plans remain subject to final UK government approval and form part of Ming Yang’s broader pan-European expansion strategy.

The announcement follows last month’s strategic partnership with Octopus Energy, aimed at deploying affordable offshore wind capacity and integrating advanced software solutions for cybersecurity and grid optimization.

Ming Yang Group Chairman Zhang Chuanwei said the company is “committed to accelerating the global energy transition through innovation and community-focused solutions,” adding that the UK investment would reinforce its role as a global leader in wind technology.

Aman Wang, Ming Yang UK CEO, said the project would help make Britain a “global hub for offshore wind technology” and contribute to the government’s mission of becoming a “clean energy superpower.”

Story Continues

If approved, the initiative could redefine the UK’s offshore wind manufacturing base, attract further foreign investment, and bolster the country’s ambitions to scale floating wind—a critical component of meeting net-zero and energy security targets by the 2030s.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:

Guyana Gains French Support Amid U.S. Pressure on Venezuela No Exit from Urals: Turkey’s Refineries Still Locked into Russian Supply Why Luxembourg is Betting on Bitcoin for Long-Term Growth

Oilprice Intelligence brings you the signals before they become front-page news. This is the same expert analysis read by veteran traders and political advisors. Get it free, twice a week, and you'll always know why the market is moving before everyone else.

You get the geopolitical intelligence, the hidden inventory data, and the market whispers that move billions - and we'll send you $389 in premium energy intelligence, on us, just for subscribing. Join 400,000+ readers today. Get access immediately by clicking here.

View Comments