‘Third’ revolution may bring 25,000 new jobs

Yorkshire and Humber Offshore Wind is a new consortium of local authorities across Yorkshire which aims to work with businesses, politicians and the Government to ensure the region reaps the full benefits of the coming boom in offshore wind.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne yesterday gave a heavily-trailed speech at the annual Renewable UK conference in Manchester in which he described the coming transition to a low-carbon economy as the UK’s “third industrial revolution.

Mr Huhne said the green energy industries are now set to “deliver jobs and growth, just when we need them most.”

Yorkshire looks ideally placed to benefit, with two of the world’s largest offshore wind farms planned off its North Sea coast over the next decade, and with its existing fossil fuel power stations now drawing up plans for carbon capture and biomass alternatives.

The scale of the opportunity is made clear today in a new study which suggests jobs in the region’s green sector will soar from 21,700 to more than 45,000 by 2020.

The report, titled The Prospects for Green Jobs to 2020, suggests some of the biggest increases are likely to be in offshore wind – soaring from around 1,000 jobs now to just under 16,000 by 2020 – and recycling and biomass, with 5,000 more jobs each. The numbers employed in fitting low carbon facilities to buildings – such as adding extra insulation – could rise from 1,000 to more than 3,000.

In contrast, jobs in “highly resource-intensive” sectors like chemicals, metal manufacture and road haulage, may be at risk, the report warns, if businesses don’t adopt more efficient and low-cost operating methods.

The report, presented to the four local authorities on the Humber this week, says the huge potential will only be realised if the public sector takes a joined-up approach on policy and initiatives, in the face of stiff competition from the rest of the UK and Europe.

To this end, the new Yorkshire and Humber Offshore Wind alliance involves input from officers at Scarborough, North Yorkshire, East Riding, Hull, North Lincolnshire and North-East Lincolnshire councils, as well as Local Government Yorkshire and Humber.

“This is the start of what’s going to be a collaboration between local politicians, MPs and businesses across the region,” said Alex Richards, an officer with Scarborough Borough Council who is helping drive the project forward.

“We are stronger together – it gives us a more powerful voice and a shared vision. Our first aim is to benefit the UK economy as a whole by driving investment, and our second is to make this region the heart of this new industry.

“And we’ll do that whether its making the case for this region in Parliament or in discussions with companies like Siemens.”

Hopes are high that an announcement is now imminent from Siemens regarding its proposed £80m turbine factory at Hull, which would create 800 jobs directly and many more along the supply chain.

It is believed other multinational turbine manufacturers may then follow suit.

Mr Huhne said yesterday it is vital Britain grasps the opportunity.

Work to start soon on vast wind farm

WORK should get under way next year on the world’s biggest offshore wind farm, 90 miles off the Yorkshire coast, its project director has revealed.

Gareth Lewis, head of offshore development at Forewind – the consortium planning a 2,500-turbine wind farm at Dogger Bank – told the Renewable UK conference yesterday that the scheme is proceeding well and that he expects “the first installation in place by the end of 2012.”

Forewind is currently midway through the world’s biggest environmental assessment, as it gauges the likely impact on marine life across the 5,000-square mile wind farm zone.

The scheme could eventually provide 10 per cent of the UK’s entire electricity needs.