A leading green energy body has challenged the Government to show its commitment to wind power by increasing targets from offshore facilities.
Renewable UK called for the UK government to improve confidence in the offshore wind industry and cut costs to ensure continued long-term investment in the sector.
The challenge comes after the publication of a new report by Charles Ogilvie, former chief of staff to energy minister Greg Barker, which calls for increased support to maintain momentum in the offshore wind sector.
“The Government must decide whether it’s fully committed to reaping the benefits of clean energy and job creation that offshore wind offers,” said Jennifer Webber, Renewable UK’s director of external affairs.
“It’s not rocket science to say that if we want to bring big wind turbine manufacturers to the UK, we need to get the level of financial support for the industry right.
“We need to reach that sweet spot where the price is set at a realistic level to unlock investment and growth.”
The report, Offshore Wind: Decision Time, says a larger target for wind generated power into the grid is needed to allow economies of scale within the offshore sector and encourage production at British factories.
It also calls for a minimum capacity target, with the reduction in financial support for the industry being scaled back at a slower rate than current proposals.
The report comes just days after developer RWE axed plans for one of the world’s largest offshore windfarms over cost fears. The £3billion Atlantic Array would have generated up to 1.2GW for the national grid, but the cost and technical challenge of installing it offshore proved too high for the developer.
The Crown Estate, which manages coastal waters and leases the land for offshore wind facilities, warned it expects further projects to be axed over the next few years.
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