A WIND of change could be blowing through a company that underwent devastating job cuts this year.

Bosses at Corus's Bi-Steel and Construction Services wing, based at Redcar, claim the firm's design and construction work will have the edge in orders for offshore wind farms.

General manager John Whitton, said interest in their revolutionary 'sail' construction system was 'very substantial' at last week's Europe oil and gas exhibition in Aberdeen.

Crown Estate announced earlier this year that it will be leasing seabeds around the UK for the development of offshore wind farms.

Up to 540 wind turbines could be built on 30 sites, including 30 over a mile from the mouth of the River Tees.

The biggest wind turbines in the world - the first ones offshore in the UK - are already in position off the coast of Northumberland, rooted on the seabed of the North Sea, a mile off Blyth.

Standing 300ft above the water and buried 50ft under the seabed they have the potential to generate enough electricity to light and heat 9,000 homes.

The Government has set a target date of having ten per cent of electricity generation from renewable sources by the year 2010.

Mr Whitton says building turbines offshore and placing them in the seabed is challenging with bad weather and tides often allowing only a small 'window' for installation.

He said "That's where the advantages of Bi-Steel come in.

"It's a steel-concrete-steel composite construction system. which can both withstand impact and absorb energy.

"We can fabricate self floating modules onshore to precise dimensions.

"They are then towed out to sea, sunk and held in position by up to 3,500 tonnes of iron ore ballast. This operation can take less than 24 hours if necessary.'