Floating offshore wind is central to the UK achieving its net zero ambitions, according to RenewableUK chief executive Dan McGrail.
McGrail, speaking at the Floating Offshore Wind conference in Aberdeen, said the industry needs to seize the moment and political momentum sparked by the upcoming Cop26 climate change conference in Glasgow.
McGrail, who was giving the event’s opening address this morning, said: “The UK needs floating wind to get to net zero. We don’t have the luxury of choice if we need to build over 100GW of offshore wind by 2050.
“To unleash the potential we need a masterplan, a bigger ambition that extends beyond 2030.
“1GW does not build an industry. A more long-term 2040 target of 16GW to 20GW, or more, is needed to make the UK more attractive than the rather substantial global competition.”
McGrail also called for the more frequent seabed leasing rounds to be held in the future as well as a “sensible” auction strategy.
He added: “We need to invest in innovation, we need to speed up the seabed leases and give a pathway to gigawatt-scale projects and the government should support floating offshore wind with a sensible auction strategy. AR4 is a good step but we need active industrial intervention from the government.”
He told the conference that a push was needed from within the sector to improve skills and help oil and gas make the transition, as well as build the port infrastructure required to support floating offshore wind.
He said: “The biggest lesson that can be learned can be learned this year, when the offshore sector has produced more private investment than ever before, and that is despite the pandemic and Brexit.
“This is because of a combination of ambition and policies of industrial interventions. And that’s why we are here in Aberdeen to discuss these matters. Aberdeen is also a place where floating offshore wind can create so much opportunity.”