The UK Government’s Offshore Wind Champion Tim Pick (pictured) has published a new report containing a series of key recommendations to speed up the rate at which the UK secures much-needed new offshore wind capacity.
It also covers what is needed to build up new supply chains around the UK.
In the “Independent report of the Offshore Wind Champion – Seizing our Opportunities” Pick states: “If you take just one message from this report, it should be the urgent need to upgrade our national grid for a world of high renewables penetration, and widespread electrification of homes and businesses.
“Grid connections are increasingly becoming the rate-limiting factor for our offshore wind deployment going forward.”
As a key step towards achieving grid upgrades, he says: “Ofgem’s mandate needs updating, to give proper weight to the legally binding Net Zero by 2050 commitment, as well as interim policy waypoints such as the objective to have a decarbonised power system by 2035.”
Furthermore, Pick adds: “In the shorter term, we do still have a significant pipeline of offshore wind projects which have or can secure grid access.
“To accelerate these we need to finalise the planning and environmental reforms contained in the Energy Security Bill, Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, and NSIP Action Plan, and then ensure that those reforms are promptly and effectively operationalised.”
Pick suggests that these measures should be reinforced by an Industrial Growth Plan for Offshore Wind, in the report published by the Department for Net Zero and Energy Security.
He states: “In light of its importance to the UK’s Energy Security, the Government should consider offshore wind as a priority industry for significant long term innovation funding, in line with sectors such as civil nuclear.”
The report recommends setting deployment targets for 2035, 2040 and 2050 to boost private investment and grow new supply chains.
The UK currently has 13.66GW of offshore wind capacity installed, and a Government target to reach 50GW by 2030.
Commenting on the report, RenewableUK’s chief executive Dan McGrail said: “At a time when international competition from the US, EU and other markets has never been fiercer, this wide-ranging report sets out how the UK can get on track to deliver the huge benefits the offshore wind industry offers.
“Offshore wind is a priority industry for the UK’s green economy and developing a new industrial growth plan will help the UK to compete internationally and attract tens of billions in private investment.
“As Tim’s report highlights, creating the right investment climate needs a sustainable approach on prices and clean power auctions to support long-term growth and supply chain development.
“His report also makes clear that we urgently need to speed up the process for planning and connecting projects to the grid, as well as giving Ofgem a mandate to unlock investment in net zero infrastructure.
“At the moment, it can over a decade to get a new wind farm up and running, which is time we don’t have to meet the goal of a cheap, clean power system.
“I’d like to congratulate Tim for his excellent report and to thank the Government for appointing him to lead this important work.
“We fully support his recommendations and stand ready to work with Ministers to implement them.”
Claire Mack, Chief Executive of Scottish Renewables, added: “His focus on the importance of grid connections as the key ‘rate-limiting factor’ for our offshore wind sector is correct, as is his appeal to ‘proceed at pace, on almost a wartime footing’ with the expansion of electricity network infrastructure if offshore wind is to deliver anything like its full potential in the UK.
“Other areas which are rightly highlighted include essential reform of regulator Ofgem, whose mandate must include net-zero, and the need for action to catalyse investment in port infrastructure across the country and to recognise inflationary and commodity pressures on projects which are about to bid into this year’s Contracts for Difference round.
“This report is one of a number, including Chris Skidmore MP’s Independent Review of Net Zero, which should give the UK Government pause for thought as it pursues a policy agenda which is not embracing the renewable energy development opportunity in front of us and damaging our economy and environment as well as the attractiveness of this country to the international business community.”
Richard Sandford, co-chair of OWIC, said: “We’re grateful for Offshore Wind Champion Tim Pick’s report and his hard work to help the sector.
“The report brings new clarity and focus to the challenge of getting clean energy from offshore wind projects flowing into British homes and businesses as quickly as we can.
“Accelerating the delivery of the UK’s offshore wind ambition helps the UK reach net zero and should provide further opportunities for British industry.
“Offshore wind must continue to excel at a time when global competition for expertise and resources to plan, invest in, and build has never been greater.
“The industry stands ready to work with ministers to put the right framework in place to support this.”