The South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) has welcomed the Government’s commitment to the offshore wind industry and its determination to generate more than 30% of British electricity from this renewable source of power by 2030.
Christian Brodie, Chair of SELEP, said: “Our coastline is already making a major contribution to the UK’s renewable power generation and driving growth in our ports and is at the heart of the energy strategy we have developed along with our LEP partners in Coast to Capital and Enterprise M3.
“We are home to a strong cluster of wind farms, including London Array, the world’s second largest operational wind farm off the coast of Ramsgate, which produces 630MW and generates electricity for nearly 500,000 homes. Nearby, Vattenfall has continued to invest in its Kentish Flats wind farm and is generating 300MW.
“The port of Newhaven is also benefitting from the investment by E.ON in Rampion, the 400MW offshore wind farm which was commissioned less than a year ago.
“As we move towards a low-carbon economy it is essential that as a nation we back those industries that will underpin its growth, and that includes our renewable technologies sector.
“We would urge the Government to look at what has already been achieved through the investment in our existing wind farms and the Centre for Offshore Renewable Engineering as a platform for this growth.”
Offshore Wind Sector Deal
The new joint government-industry Offshore Wind Sector Deal, includes commitments to:
- invest £250 million including new Offshore Wind Growth Partnership to develop the UK supply chain as global exports are set to increase fivefold to £2.6 billion by 2030
- increase the sector target for the amount of UK content in homegrown offshore wind projects to 60%, making sure that the £557 million pledged by the Government in July 2018 for further clean power auctions over the next 10 years will directly benefit local communities from Wick to the Isle of Wight .
- spearhead a new £250 million Offshore Wind Growth Partnership to make sure UK companies in areas like the North East, East Anglia, Humber and the Solent continue to be competitive and are leaders internationally in the next generation of offshore wind innovations in areas such as robotics, advanced manufacturing, new materials, floating wind and larger turbines
- boost global exports to areas like Europe, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the United States fivefold to £2.6 billion per year by 2030 through partnership between the Department of Trade and industry to support smaller supply chain companies to export for the first time
- reduce the cost of projects in the 2020s and overall system costs, so projects commissioning in 2030 will cost consumers less as we move towards a subsidy free world .
Announcing the deal, Claire Perry, Energy & Clean Growth Minister said: “This new Sector Deal will drive a surge in the clean, green offshore wind revolution that is powering homes and businesses across the UK, bringing investment into coastal communities and ensuring we maintain our position as global leaders in this growing sector.
“By 2030 a third of our electricity will come from offshore wind, generating thousands of high-quality jobs across the UK, a strong UK supply chain and a fivefold increase in exports. This is our modern Industrial Strategy in action.”