Following UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledge to support development of the country’s offshore supply chain, SSE Renewables managing director Jim Smith says now is the time to act to address key barriers.
Johnson committed his government to deploying 40GW of offshore wind energy by 2030, backed up by a £160m investment in ports and factories.
Smith said that hurdles such as resolving consenting challenges, developing the grid, as well as the reform of the electricity market, would put the UK on a course to delivering these targets.
He said: “A public commitment to much-needed multi-million-pound investments in infrastructure is important because it should have a real impact on creating jobs and supporting companies in regions all across the UK, including Scotland where we’re building the country’s largest offshore wind farm and Northern England where we’re building the world’s largest offshore site.
“It’s an investment commitment many of us in the industry have long been calling for, and echoes calls made by SSE Renewables to build an investable, globally competitive UK supply chain for the offshore wind sector.
“That’s why this announcement should be widely welcomed.
“But revolutions, even green ones, are not built on announcements alone.
“From today, all of us involved in the delivery of offshore wind, from government to industry, need to come together to maintain the push behind our efforts and take the enabling steps needed to allow this revolution to succeed.
“Yesterday’s announcement of strategic investment to support UK supply chain development is one such key action, but there are still others to address, ranging from consenting challenges to developing the grid, as well as reform of the electricity market to ensure the UK remains the best place to invest in the long term.
“As an industry we need to continue to work collaboratively with government to overcome these barriers. But we can overcome them.
“In doing so, we can put the UK on a course to delivering 40GW by 2030 as part of a green recovery.”