‘Once in generation chance’
to grab energy jobs windfall

A failure to attract major companies to set up factories to support Europe’s fast-growing offshore wind sector will see the UK losing tens of thousands of jobs and investment to other countries, industry body RenewableUK said in a report published this morning.

The Government wants to see thousands of offshore wind farms built around the coast of Britain over the coming years, with potential for up to 18 gigawatts to be installed by the end of the decade – a huge increase from the 3.3GW already installed.

The rest of Europe is set to build a similar amount over the same period.

Today’s report by RenewableUK suggests that to deliver the thousands of huge turbines required, Europe will need 64 major manufacturing facilities to make the necessary turbine towers, blades, foundations, cables and other components.

A third of the required factories are operational, and a third more are in the pipeline – but less than a quarter of those working or planned facilities are in the UK, according to the report launched at today’s offshore wind conference in Manchester.

Yorkshire is fighting to become the UK’s manufacturing hub for offshore wind turbines, with Siemens one of a string of global firms considering setting up factories along the banks of the River Humber.

But a final decision has been delayed by the technology giant amid concern within the industry about the lack of long-term certainty being provided by the Government.

RenewableUK’s chief executive Maria McCaffery said: “This is a once in a generation opportunity.

“If we don’t seize it, the large-scale offshore wind farm 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 Government to ensure that the UK capitalises on this chance to build an industry which will be the envy of the rest of the world.”

The new report makes clear the scale of the opportunity available to Yorkshire and the whole of the UK.

Between now and 2030, almost 8,000 turbine towers could be needed for UK offshore wind farms, along with nearly 25,000 huge turbine blades and more than 5,000 miles of cables, the industry body said.

The UK would need dozens of factories to supply the sector, and more than 20 huge seagoing vessels for installation and 230 ships to carry workers to and from working turbines.

The Government insists it is doing all it can to provide the certainty that investors need.

The coalition’s much-delayed Energy Bill is making its way through Parliament, with Ministers hopeful that the long-term subsidies it promises to energy suppliers will be the spark investors are waiting for.

Energy Minister Michael Fallon said: “Offshore wind is a British success story.

“We already have more installed offshore wind than anywhere else in the world and this brings enormous benefit to our shores, supporting thousands of skilled jobs.

“This report sets out the enormous potential of this dynamic industry which makes a crucial contribution to our clean energy mix.”