UK Minister for Nuclear and Renewables Andrew Bowie has backed the Humber Region to have a “major role” in achieving the country’s end-decade offshore wind deployment target.
He told delegates at today’s Offshore Wind Connections 2024 event in Hull he expects the region to build on its existing contribution to the rollout of the technology.
He credited offshore wind with generating more than 17% of the country’s electricity in 2023 and for UK waters hosting five of the world’s largest wind farms. They include the 1.2GW Hornsea 1 and 1.32GW Hornsea 2 arrays, which are maintained from Orsted’s East Coast Hub in Grimsby.
He said: “If this is a British success story then the Humber is one of the main characters.
“It will have a major role to play as we aim for 50GW of offshore wind by 2030.”
Hull City Council assistant director for economic development and regeneration Alex Codd added: “We are pleased to host this event in the city. The journey for offshore wind started in 2010 when conversations started with Siemens Gamesa about a site for its blade factory on the Humber.
“The real value is not the £0.5bn that came from the infrastructure or the £180m factory extension but from the 1200 high value jobs that have been created. Offshore wind is critical to the city and the high value opportunities it has embedded in the workforce.”