The UK’s Environmental Audit Committee is launching an inquiry looking at technological innovations which could contribute to tackling climate change.
The first session will look at offshore wind power. The UK has the largest offshore wind market in the world and the government’s sector deal announced in March 2019 aims to raise the productivity and competitiveness of its companies.
This session will consider the opportunities to maximise continued uptake and effectiveness of wind technology, and the challenges faced by the industry in delivering greater capacity.
“Wind farms are being sited at greater water depths, presenting new and more complex engineering challenges. Similarly, advances in blade technology have implications for both the size and materials design of turbines and towers,” said the statement from the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC).
“There is also scope for optimising infrastructure to provide a more efficient method of maximising generation, reducing losses and improving the operational control of offshore wind farm networks,” it added.
The EAC said as offshore capacity expands there is both the potential for creating new jobs as well as an increased impact on coastal communities where transmission cables come on shore to supply the grid, although offshore hubs and other innovations could address concerns in those communities.
Each part of the inquiry will look at a specific technology currently in use or in development and consider its potential and how government policy can facilitate the UK making the best and most cost-effective use of that technology.
The inquiry will be an opportunity to highlight UK-based examples of innovation and excellence, and the committee is particularly keen to hear from those at the cutting edge of each sector.
Article 10 of the Paris Agreement recognises the central role of innovation in achieving mitigation and adaptation goals.
The UK has taken a lead role in the development and deployment of some low-carbon technologies, and has supported international collaboration on a number of others, according to the EAC.