Talking on the opening session of RenewableUK’s International Offshore Wind 2024 convention and exhibition at Manchester Central, RenewableUK’s Chief Govt Dan McGrail has known as for the sector to place the troubles of latest years behind it.
His tackle got here a couple of days after the group revealed a report exhibiting that world offshore wind operational capability had increased by 21% over the last 12 months, from 61.5 gigawatts a year ago to 75GW today.
He stated: “By no means earlier than has our convention taken place at a second when the content material of our conversations and the boldness of our management can have such a direct affect on the years forward.
“After a number of years of turmoil, we should always lastly be coming into an period the place wind power turns into the core of the power system. There isn’t any doubt our sector has had a bumpy couple of years. The jarring impact of inflation on provide chains all over the world has disrupted market costs, danger profiles and attitudes to the sector not like something we’ve seen earlier than within the business’s growth. But the market is popping the nook. In response to our new EnergyPulse report, the sector added 21% to its world put in capability within the final 12 months alone.
“Within the UK, we will sit up for a optimistic public sale for brand new offshore wind tasks in 2024, with practically 11 gigawatts of capability eligible to bid in, together with a wholesome mixture of established fixed-bottom tasks in addition to progressive floating wind tasks.
“We have spent much of the last year developing our offshore wind Industrial Growth Plan. Economic growth has been put at the heart of this election and many others around the world. After the UK election, the Secretary of State will arrive at a very early decision about how much offshore wind to procure this year. With the right backing, nearly £30 billion of private investment into renewables, across all technologies, can be secured this autumn, with an industrial plan to stimulate the jobs and careers across Britain, kickstarting economic growth and industrial reinvention”.
On the identical session, the President of COP26 and former Secretary of State for Enterprise, Vitality and Industrial Technique Sir Alok Sharma stated:
“The offshore wind sector has an important position to play in making certain that the world meets its local weather and clear power targets. You might have come an extremely great distance in a couple of quick a long time. The applied sciences are right here – we simply have to deploy them sooner to maintain on monitor for our 2030 targets.
“We additionally know that your sector has confronted a triple whammy of headwinds during the last couple of years. These are rising pains – I do assume the sector has turned a nook and the basics are extremely robust.
“Your Industrial Growth Plan sets out very thoughtfully how to grow the UK offshore wind sector and ensure we have more manufacturing here , as well as boosting jobs and investment”.
Extra particulars can be found right here on RenewableUK’s 2-day Global Offshore Wind 2024 convention and exhibition in Manchester.
