NORTH-EAST wind turbine manufacturer Tag Energy Solutions is on the verge of going into administration with the loss of about 100 jobs, The Northern Echo understands. 

The business at Haverton Hill, near Billingham has struggled to land a big order since it was hailed as a key part of the region's renewable energy sector when it opened in summer 2011. 

There were hopes that it had turned the corner last year when it landed a contract to build 16 steel foundation poles, to support the turbines, for Eon's wind farm off the Humber Estuary, in East Yorkshire.

George Rafferty, chief executive of NOF Energy, said: “This is a real blow to the North-East offshore supply chain and the company’s skilled workforce. 

"It’s really disappointing that the investments made by companies like TAG Energy Solutions over the last five years, on the back of positive messages from government and operators regarding opportunities in the offshore renewables sector, have been seriously impacted by political and investor uncertainty. 

“Supply chain companies have been working towards being able to support a balanced and mixed energy industry, but some are returning their focus solely to oil & gas in reaction to the scaled back operations in other sectors.”  

Shortly after it opened bosses had predicted that the plant would eventually employ 400 workers.

The Northern Echo understands that administrators at Duff and Phelps are about to be appointed for the business.  

Last year, Alex Dawson stood down as chief executive to be replaced by Stuart Oakley, a specialist in marine and offshore construction, who had managed offshore vessels in the North Sea and Canada, and worked in the Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, India, and Asia.