Offshore wind has a vital role to play in ensuring climate targets are met, according to former COP President and Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Alok Sharma.
Speaking at the opening session of RenewableUK’s Global Offshore Wind 2024 conference and exhibition at Manchester Central, Sharma (pictured) said: “The offshore wind sector has a vital role to play in ensuring that the world meets its climate and clean energy targets.
“You have come an incredibly long way in a few short decades.
“The technologies are here – we just need to deploy them faster to keep on track for our 2030 goals.”
Sharma acknowledged the challenges facing the industry
“We also know that your sector has faced a triple whammy of headwinds over the last couple of years.
“These are growing pains – I do think the sector has turned a corner and the fundamentals are incredibly strong,” he said, adding that the Industrial Growth Plan sets out “very thoughtfully” how to grow the UK offshore wind sector, establish manufacturing and boost jobs and investment.
RenewableUK CEO Dan MacGrail also added that after a “bumpy couple of years”, the market is “turning the corner”.
He said: “According to our new EnergyPulse report, the sector added 21% to its global installed capacity in the last year alone.
“In the UK, we can look ahead to a positive auction for new offshore wind projects in 2024, with nearly 11 gigawatts of capacity eligible to bid in, including a healthy mix of established fixed-bottom projects as well as innovative floating wind projects.”
After the UK election, the Secretary of State will “arrive at a very early decision” about how much offshore wind to procure this year, he told the audience, adding: “With the right backing, nearly £30bn of private investment into renewables, across all technologies, can be secured this autumn, with an industrial plan to stimulate the jobs and careers across Britain, kickstarting economic growth and industrial reinvention.”