The UK Crown Estate has been urged to quickly decide where its new £400 million commitment to offshore wind is going to be spent.
The investment announced this week is intended to support the construction of new infrastructure, including ports, supply chain manufacturing, and research and testing facilities, to enable the deployment of offshore wind across Britain.
However, Christopher Rowland projects commercial manager at Flotation Energy, speaking at the second day of the Seanergy conference in Paris, said: “What we need now is to find out where the money is going to be spent. Which parts of manufacturing and which locations.
“We need to increase capacity for floating offshore wind and for manufacturers to make more platforms. We need more capacity for fabrication and manufacturing,” he said. “In France, the subsidies the government has provided the ports, and the subsidies has helped develop the supply chain and promote the market.”
Rowland was taking part in a debate with Matthieu Pettinotti, offshore wind business developer at Oxan Energy on the advantages and disadvantages of developing floating wind in the UK and France. Government support was seen as one crucial difference between the two nations.
“We have a well established CFD system in the UK which has brought a good level of certainty and stability for developers since the start of the century,” Rowland said. “We have the support, strong experience and transferrable skills.”
Pettinotti said the French state’s support in providing environmental surveys, two-sided CFDs and grid connections meant less risk for offshore developers. “It is a big advantage. You don’t put your money at risk,” he said.
Rowland, however said UK developers carrying out the site selection work themselves and the environment studies did mean a financial investment but meant more “commitment” to the projects at an earlier stage.
“There is a clear interest to bring these projects through and ensure deliverability,” he said. “Overall, there is a great opportunity in floating offshore wind. Where possible the UK and France will work together but given our centuries of history we shall also spar together as well.”