RenewableUK, the renewable energy trade association, has welcomed a series of Government announcements giving strong support to the renewables sector.
At a business conference in London, the Prime Minister David Cameron declared: “I see offshore wind as a significant energy and industrial opportunity for the UK, and one that I am determined to seize”. He also said: “the Coalition Government strongly supports the growth of renewable energy to help diversify and decarbonise our long term energy mix”.
Mr Cameron urged investment funds, pension funds and sovereign wealth funds to join what he described as the UK’s renewable energy revolution by investing in large offshore wind projects. He assured delegates that “the UK will remain the world’s most attractive offshore wind market for many years to come, due to a world-leading marine engineering base”.
Mr Cameron’s words follow the publication today of the National Infrastructure Plan, unveiled by the Chancellor George Osborne in his Autumn Statement, in which the Government announced its commitment to developing five Centres for Offshore Renewable Engineering. These will provide support for businesses seeking to invest in manufacturing for the reneweables sector. They will be based in Humber, Tees, Tyne, Lowestoft/Great Yarmouth and Sheerness.
Also today, the Energy Minister Charles Hendry gave consent to DONG Energy to construct a new wind farm off the Yorkshire coast, creating 1,000 jobs during its construction. The 245MW offshore wind farm at Westermost Rough, to the North of the Humber Estuary, is expected to generate enough electricity to supply around 150,000 homes.
Dr Gordon Edge, RenewableUK’s Director of Policy, said: “The Government is sending out a strong message that it is committed to the development and deployment of renewable energy projects, and the industry’s supply chain to deliver them. The most senior figures at the highest level of Government are acknowledging the crucial role that reneweable energy has to play in our economic development. The wind industry is creating jobs and generating wealth for the UK, as well as giving us energy security and helping us to meet our carbon reduction targets”.
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Offshore WIND staff, November 30, 2011; Image: bis