UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told industry leaders he has an “insatiable” desire to maximise supply of offshore wind at a Downing Street roundtable event.
Johnson told attendees at the roundtable event on 31 March, the third he has held focused on energy security, that there is “huge natural potential” for offshore wind as a “secure and renewable energy source”, according to a Number 10 spokesperson.
They discussed a range of issues “including auctions, improving the resilience of the energy grid, reducing costs and exploring what more could be done to ensure that locally supported wind farms can be built in good time”.
Johnson also spoke of how crucial it is that the UK builds a “strong, home-grown renewable energy sector” in light of recent events, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“While the UK was already a world leader in offshore wind, the Prime Minister told attendees that he had an insatiable desire to further maximise supply. This would support high-wage, high-skilled jobs, while ensuring the UK can deliver Net Zero by 2050 and meet its energy needs for the future,” the Number 10 spokesperson said.
Energy Minister Greg Hands, who was also present, raised the work of the Offshore Wind Acceleration Taskforce and set out government support for the sector.
This included the £380m the government is providing for “offshore wind technology”, the spokesperson said.