The UK has a “once in a generation” opportunity to capitalise on the off-shore windfarm industry and create tens of thousands of new jobs, it has been claimed.
A new report published today says renewable energy targets offer major scope to build thousands of turbines and construct miles of cable between now and 2030.
But the authors, industry body RenewableUK and The Crown Estate, warned that failure to seize the “unprecedented” opportunity would result in the manufacturing advantage being lost to European competitors.
The study, titled Building an Industry, quantifies how many wind turbine factories and facilities to make blades, cables and foundations are needed to fulfil the increase in demand.
The UK Government envisages the potential for 18GW of offshore wind installed by 2020, up from a 3.3GW installed so far.
The rest of Europe combined is expected to match this with another 18GW, to reach a total of 36GW by the end of the decade.
The report states that Europe would need 64 major manufacturing facilities to meet the target.
It estimates that by 2030, the UK offshore wind sector will need as many as seven turbine tower factories, seven blade factories, seven nacelle factories, six factories to build foundations, six to build offshore substations and six to construct cables
The sector would also require more than 20 huge seagoing vessels to install turbines and a further 230 craft to carry workers to and from installations once they are operational.
RenewableUK and The Crown Estate claim this means the UK offshore wind sector will need up to 7,930 turbine towers, 23,790 blades and 5,615 miles of cables – a distance the equivalent from London to Thailand – between now and 2030.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” said RenewableUK chief executive Maria McCaffery said.
“If we don’t seize it, the large scale offshore wind supply chain factories of the future, making the enormous blades, towers and foundations that we’ll need to retain the UK’s global lead in offshore wind, will be sited elsewhere.
“The potential to create tens of thousands of green-collar manufacturing jobs hangs in the balance.
“We are determined to work with the UK Government to ensure that the country capitalises on this chance to build an industry which will be the envy of the rest of the world”.
UK Energy Minister Michael Fallon described offshore wind as a “British success story”.
“We already have more installed offshore wind than anywhere else in the world, and this brings enormous economic benefit to our shores, supporting thousands of skilled jobs,” he added.
“This report sets out the enormous potential of this dynamic industry, which makes a crucial contribution to our clean energy mix”.
The report is being launched at RenewableUK’s annual offshore wind conference in Manchester today.
Meanwhile the Crown Estate will launch a new leasing programme today to encourage further investment in offshore wind test and demonstration projects.
Its announcement will come during the RenewableUK offshore wind conference in Manchester, but Martin Simpson, head of new energy and technology at the organisation, said last night: “To unlock sustained growth in offshore wind we have to demonstrate that technological advancements can drive down costs.
“This new leasing programme is opening the doors for testing and demonstration of new technology … and cementing the UK as the best place for investments in supply chain and commercial projects. Floating wind is included for the first time because of its future potential.”
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