Fallon backs UK’s fast-growing offshore wind industry

BUSINESS MINISTER Michael Fallon and the Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing have given strong backing to the UK’s fast-growing offshore wind industry at a major conference, with announcements designed to encourage the UK supply chain in offshore wind and remove important areas of uncertainty for developing offshore wind farms.

During the keynote speeches at the opening of RenewableUK’s Global Offshore Wind conference in Glasgow, Mr Fallon said: “Offshore wind isn’t just an energy sector, it’s a growth sector – and it’s vital that as the offshore wind sector grows, it strengthens its contribution to economic growth and creating jobs in the UK – more than 6,000 people are directly employed in the industry, with a similar number of indirect jobs in the supply chain.”

The Tory MP said he was delighted that Siemens and ABP are investing £310m in wind turbine production and installation facilities in the Hull area, noting: “This will be one of the largest investments in Humberside in the last 50 years - it clearly demonstrates that the UK is the market for the offshore wind sector.”

Mr Fallon announced a review of the UK’s offshore wind supply chain to identify opportunities for Government support.