Vestas announced it will stop production at its factories in Lauchhammer, Germany; Viveiro, Spain and Esbjerg, Denmark.
As of August 2021, Vestas employs more than 29,000 globally across onshore and offshore activities.
Vestas supplies onshore and offshore wind turbine components to its customers from 12 sites across Europe — from facilities owned by Vestas and its supply chain partners. Vestas’ Service business has more than 19 GW in Germany, Spain and Denmark combined.
“We are committed to explore opportunities to relocate our colleagues, who will be impacted by the cease of production at our factories in Lauchhammer, Viveiro and Esbjerg,” said Executive Vice President and COO Tommy Rahbek Nielsen.
Vestas’ factory in Lauchhammer, Germany has since it scaled down activities two years ago maintained manufacturing of a limited number of blades for the V117 and V136 turbines and currently employs approximately 460 people.
Vestas expects to meet future customer needs for its V117 and V136 turbines with supply from its other blade factories across the world. The expectation is to finalise production in Lauchhammer by the end of 2021.
With more than 15 GW of installed turbines, 11 GW under service and more than 2,500 employees as of August 2021, Vestas sustains its commitment to the German market and our established supply chain.
Vestas’ factory in Viveiro, Spain employs approximately 115 people who manufacture generators for the 2 MW onshore platform as well as control panels for the V164 offshore turbine for markets outside of Spain.
It will stop activities in Viveiro due to the cut in demand for the 2 MW platform and the need to optimise offshore manufacturing. Vestas expects to finalise production in Viveiro end of 2021.
Spain remains a key market to Vestas, with more than 4.8 GW of installed turbines, 6 GW under service and more than 2,200 employees as of August 2021 including the blade factory in Daimiel, service operations and the headquarter for Vestas’ Mediterranean region.
Vestas’ factory in Esbjerg, Denmark employs approximately 75 people who manufacture power conversion modules for the V164 and V174 offshore turbines.
Vestas expects to conclude production of power conversion modules in Esbjerg during the first half of 2022 as demand for these modules will gradually shift to markets primarily outside of Europe and be delivered via more localised manufacturing facilities.
Denmark remains a core part of Vestas’ global footprint with more than 5,900 employees as of August 2021.