Speaking at the opening session of RenewableUK’s Global Offshore Wind 2024 conference and exhibition at Manchester Central, RenewableUK’s Chief Executive Dan McGrail has called for the sector to put the troubles of recent years behind it.
His address came a few days after the group published a report showing that global offshore wind operational capacity had increased by 21% over the last 12 months, from 61.5 gigawatts a year ago to 75GW today.
He said: “Never before has our conference taken place at a moment when the content of our conversations and the boldness of our leadership can have such a direct impact on the years ahead.
“After several years of turmoil, we should finally be entering an era where wind energy becomes the core of the energy system. There is no doubt our sector has had a bumpy couple of years. The jarring effect of inflation on supply chains around the world has disrupted market prices, risk profiles and attitudes to the sector unlike anything we have seen before in the industry’s development. Yet the market is turning the corner. According to our new EnergyPulse report, the sector added 21% to its global installed capacity in the last year alone.
“In the UK, we can look ahead to a positive auction for new offshore wind projects in 2024, with nearly 11 gigawatts of capacity eligible to bid in, including a healthy mix of established fixed-bottom projects as well as innovative floating wind projects.
“We have spent much of the last year developing our offshore wind Industrial Growth Plan. Economic growth has been put at the heart of this election and many others around the world. After the UK election, the Secretary of State will arrive at a very early decision about how much offshore wind to procure this year. With the right backing, nearly £30 billion of private investment into renewables, across all technologies, can be secured this autumn, with an industrial plan to stimulate the jobs and careers across Britain, kickstarting economic growth and industrial reinvention”.
At the same session, the President of COP26 and former Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Sir Alok Sharma said:
“The offshore wind sector has a vital role to play in ensuring that the world meets its climate and clean energy targets. You have come an incredibly long way in a few short decades. The technologies are here – we just need to deploy them faster to keep on track for our 2030 goals.
“We also know that your sector has faced a triple whammy of headwinds over the last couple of years. These are growing pains – I do think the sector has turned a corner and the fundamentals are incredibly strong.
“Your Industrial Growth Plan sets out very thoughtfully how to grow the UK offshore wind sector and ensure we have more manufacturing here , as well as boosting jobs and investment”.
More details are available here on RenewableUK’s 2-day Global Offshore Wind 2024 conference and exhibition in Manchester.
