Regional Growth Prospectuses released by the Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC) and the Crown Estate set out how coastal regions around the country can expand their activities in key parts of the UK’s rapidly growing offshore wind supply chain. This would not only create and sustain an additional 10,000 new jobs on top of the 100,000 already expected in the industry but also boost the UK’s economy by over £25 billion between now and 2035.
The prospectuses build on the sector’s Industrial Growth Plan (IGP) for offshore wind, which set out national priorities to maximise growth by manufacturing key components such as turbine towers, blades, foundations and cables, as well as building and maintaining offshore wind farms and providing high-value services such as environmental surveying. Ports are vital to maximise the opportunities set out in the Industrial Growth Plan and are highlighted in the prospectuses, reflecting their significant role in driving economic and industrial development.
Each prospectus is tailored to a specific offshore wind ‘cluster’ — a coastal region where companies involved in the sector are already concentrated, and where there is an expectation that other firms will join them as the industry’s supply chain continues to grow. The idea was initiated by the clusters themselves in the OWIC clusters forum, and all have been involved in the project to compile the prospectuses. They comprise: Offshore Energy Alliance (North Wales and North West England); Celtic Sea Cluster (South Wales and South West England); EastWind Cluster (East of England); the Humber Offshore Wind Cluster (Humber Region); and Energi Coast Cluster (North East England).
Also included are the Clean Energy Cluster (Scotland), and Northern Ireland Maritime & Offshore cluster (Northern Ireland); the South East of England has also been included in this work, recognising its offshore wind capabilities and opportunities. The prospectuses contain detailed analyses of the coastal regions which are best placed to undertake each specific activity set out in the IGP, including where the UK could build on existing facilities where huge components such as blades and cables are already being manufactured at scale and exported worldwide.
Jane Cooper, RenewableUK’s deputy chief executive and a director of OWIC, said: “These prospectuses show in detail how the UK can secure billions in new investment in offshore wind manufacturing and servicing in key locations around the country, building on our strengths and successes to date, providing clarity for Government and industry.
“Working with The Crown Estate and the clusters, OWIC has been able to set out which high-value components and services are the best fit for each area. Many of these clusters are already hosting a wide range of offshore wind supply chain companies serving projects here and exporting goods and expertise worldwide, but we can ramp up these activities to a significantly higher level, as these prospectuses demonstrate.”