Offshore ‘joy’ for UK supply chain

Almost 50% of the work required for the development and construction of offshore wind farms in the UK is going to local companies, according to a new report by RenewableUK (R-UK).

The report – ‘Offshore Wind Industry Investment in the UK: 2017 Report on Offshore Wind UK Content’ – found that 48% of the expenditure in planning, building and running offshore projects goes to UK companies. 

It shows an increase of five percentage points on the results in the last content report published in 2015, the renewables body said.

“This means the offshore wind industry has almost hit its long-term target to source 50% of its work in Britain, to be achieved by 2020,” R-UK said. 

It analysed data supplied by eight major UK offshore wind farms, which reached a final investment decision between 2010-2015.

UK companies had a particularly strong showing in the development stage with an average of 73% of work being awarded locally, a 16% increase on the previous report, R-UK said.

R-UK delivered the report on behalf of the UK’s Offshore Wind Programme Board.

R-UK chief executive Hugh McNeal said: “This report shows that offshore wind has become a key part of the UK economy, creating much-needed jobs not only in coastal communities like Hull, Grimsby and Great Yarmouth, but also across the country in the ever-expanding supply chain. 

“A huge number of British companies are heavily involved in building the UK’s world-leading offshore wind sector.”

Image: reNEWS