The Government must not delay action if it wants to ensure the UK secures a substantial homegrown offshore wind manufacturing base, employing tens of thousands of people.
That is the conclusion of a new report commissioned by British wind energy trade body,
RenewableUK. Launched today and entitled '
UK Offshore Wind: Building an Industry’, the report calls for urgent action to kick-start the £60 million
investment for UK ports to host offshore wind
manufacturers. Former Chancellor of Exchequer Alistair Darling first announced the funding in his March Budget and the new Coalition Government confirmed it would honour the funding after it took office in May.
Earlier this year, turbine manufacturers Siemens and GE committed to investing in UK manufacturing bases following the Government announcement to fund port facility upgrades, but the offshore wind industry is concerned that if the Government does not take quick and decisive action, manufacturing bases will not be ready to deliver turbines for a new round of offshore wind farm developments set to be up and running between 2015 and 2020.
"Offshore wind presents the UK with a major opportunity not only to reconfigure its energy production towards clean and renewable sources, but a once-in-generation opportunity to build a home-grown manufacturing and
R&D base for a new industry, and become the world leader in the field," said Maria McCaffery chief executive of RenewableUK.
Today’s report warns decisions on new factories will need to be made in the next two years to ensure the level of industrialisation required is achieved and at least 45,000 jobs created.
As well as upgrading port facilities, the report also says Government must create market stability and agree targets for energy production from wind as soon as possible.
Best and worst case scenarios
The report, by Douglas-Westwood, outlines a 'Healthy industry scenario’, where a manufacturing base employing at least 45,000 UK-based jobs is created. In contrast, a 'Low Added Value’ scenario – which is in line with energy outputs from the Government’s Renewable Energy Strategy – sees only limited UK manufacturing
facilities.
"Without firmer Government strategy we will get an offshore wind industry which produces clean energy for the UK, but one for the which the production facilities, and the manufacturing jobs are located elsewhere.
"If ambitious targets are agreed, and the Government acts now on a package of measures to drive forward the industry then wind can be the sector which drives forward the Coalition’s pledge to rebalance the economy and create jobs," said McCaffery.
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