UK offshore wind sector unveils 30GW vision by 2030
21st March 2018 | Commercial Energy
The pledge to expand offshore wind generation is the centrepiece of a sector deal, one of a number currently being negotiate between industry and Government. Under the sector deals, which fall under the umbrella of the Government’s broader industrial strategy, Whitehall has pledged to provide support for key growth sectors of the economy.
The offshore wind industry aims to increase generation capacity from the 13GW deployed or contracted today, to 30GW by 2030.
This wold enable offshore wind to meet one third of the UK’s electricity needs. The industry’s vision for 2030 envisages £48 billion worth of investment in UK offshore wind infrastructure. The deal estimates that the sector’s exports could increase five-fold by 2030 to £2.6 billion a year on the back of a global offshore wind market that is expected to grow to more than £30 billion per annum by the end of the next decade.
This expansion would support the creation of 27,000 skilled jobs across the UK, mainly located in coastal areas, compared to the 11.000 it employs today.
This shift to offshore wind, the cost of which has fallen dramatically in recent years, would also reduce the total electricity system costs by £2.4 billion a year, according to an analysis commissioned to inform the sector deal.
Baroness Brown of Cambridge, the UK’s low carbon business ambassador and vice chair of the Committee on Climate Change, has been unveiled as the new sector champion for offshore wind.
Benj Sykes, co-chair of the Offshore Wind Industry Council, said, “We’re absolutely delighted that Baroness Brown will be championing this deal on behalf of our sector. She brings a wealth of experience from her positions across business, Government and academia. Her knowledge and skills will be invaluable as we continue to work with the Government to deliver the UK’s Clean Growth Strategy.
More information available on the website below
https://www.edie.net/news/10/UK-offshore-wind-sector-unveils-30GW-vision-by-2030/