Leading offshore wind figures expect the joint government-industry blueprint will create a jobs boom in coastal communities and economically deprived regions around the UK.
Offshore Wind Industry Council co-chair Benj Sykes (pictured) said the benefits of the agreement will be focused in “parts of the country which have not seen opportunities like this for years”.
“Companies are burgeoning in clusters, creating new centres of excellence in this clean growth boom,” he said.
“The sector deal will ensure that even more of these companies win work not only on here, but around the world.”
MHI Vestas vice president Julian Brown said: “Our recent investment on the Isle of Wight is already delivering on the sector deal ambitions, creating nearly 400 new highly skilled jobs in 2019, exporting over three quarters of our 2019 output and investing £1m in a four-year skills programme.”
Vattenfall head of business area wind Gunnar Groebler said: “We know that we can meet the challenge of delivering a third of UK electricity demand by 2030 in partnership with the government, underpinning the shift to a low carbon economy.
“And we know that an energy strategy that delivers a diverse workforce of tens of thousands and invests in UK businesses is vital to a successful transition.”
ScottishPower chief executive Keith Anderson said: “We have a fantastic supply chain already in place in the UK, from businesses in and around East Anglia to across England, across Scotland as well as Northern Ireland.”
According to Anderson the pact will attract even more businesses in the UK to join the offshore wind supply chain. “We are excited to see the transformative impact this will have on our projects,” he said.
Siemens Gamesa UK managing director Clark MacFarlane said the company welcomes sector deal as recognition that offshore wind can be a key driver in a buoyant low carbon economy for generations to come.
“It confirms the confidence we had to invest in our Hull facility, now employing over 1100 people,” he said.
Nick Shenken, a clean energy partner at UK law firm TLT, noted that the Offshore Energy Passport, detailed in the deal, is a particularly interesting proposition.
Shenken said: “With the UK positioning itself as a global leader in offshore wind power, firms working in the sector are increasingly looking for opportunities to export their expertise and know-how.
“That expertise is typically derived from the UK market – indeed we’re seeing new participants seeking entrance into the UK offshore sector to gain the experience which they can then leverage abroad.”
SSE Renewables director of generation development Paul Cooley said: “We welcome the sector deal as a long-term mutual commitment from government and industry to help harness the incredible wind resource that our coastlines offer and deliver significant economic opportunities.
“An ambition of at least 30GW of offshore wind capacity is a fantastic start and we believe that we can go further and should aim to build as many offshore wind projects that are needed to help deliver decarbonisation.”
WindEurope public affairs director Ivan Pineda said: “The sector deal’s not only a great example for the visibility it gives on future offshore wind volumes. But also for the model of government and industry collaboration it provides, with government committing to volumes and industry to funding the required innovation.
“This model could and should be replicated elsewhere.”
RenewableUK chief executive Hugh McNeal said the trade association will set up a new organisation to help meet job creation targets.
The new body will “develop the right skills for years to come, not only by offering apprenticeships, but also by helping experienced people from other parts of the energy sector and the military make the change into offshore wind”, he added.
Orsted UK managing director Matthew Wright said the agreement marks the “coming of age” for the industry as both “part of the UK’s energy transformation and an industrial powerhouse driving economic growth”.
Wright said the technology is a “huge UK success story” and predicted the deal to trigger significant new investment as the government looks to “put offshore wind at the front and centre of the UK’s Industrial Strategy.”
Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult Andrew Jamieson is a “huge opportunity” for UK companies domestically and in new global export markets.
However, Greenpeace said the 30GW by 2030 installed capacity target is “woefully inadequate” in the light of the recent collapse of the Moorside and Wylfa nuclear developments, which it said had blown a 6.3GW hole in the nation’s energy strategy.
“Renewable power now presents the best opportunity for cheaper, cleaner and faster decarbonisation,” executive director John Sauven said.
GMB, the energy union, in response to the UK government announcement on offshore wind jobs, said the ‘green jobs revolution’ has largely been a ‘figment of politicians’ imagination, across all parties, and those pushing for more renewables in the system.
GMB national secretary Justin Bowden said: “The track record so far has been one of work for foreign companies or poorly paid, casualised employment.
“If Claire Perry’s vision is actually to be achieved with decent, well-paid and skilled jobs, then the Government will need new rules about renewable energy sources.”