The UK government has struck a deal with the energy industry with the aim of generating almost a third of the nation's electricity from offshore wind farms by 2030.

UK government to source a third of electricity from offshore wind by 2030

The Offshore Wind Sector Deal will see government and industry collaborate in the development of supply chains, new technologies and an export drive to boost sales to the likes of Japan, the US and Europe.According to official figures, offshore wind currently provides about seven per cent of the UK's power requirements. The aim to increase this to 30 per cent in 11 years' time is expected to support 27,000 jobs and will mean that, by then, 70 per cent of the nation's power will come from renewables.

Industry to invest in innovations such as robotics and floating wind turbines

Under the terms of the deal, the industry will invest £250 million in measures aimed at ensuring UK firms become world-leaders in innovation in areas such as robotics and floating wind turbines.There will also be a government/industry partnership to support smaller supply chain companies export for the first time with the aim of increasing the sector's exports five-fold by 2030, to £2.6 billion a year.Additionally, the government is earmarking more than £4 million to enable British companies to share expertise globally to help countries such as Indonesia and Pakistan avoid reliance on coal power and develop their own offshore wind projects.Energy Minister Claire Perry said, "This new sector deal will drive a surge in the clean, green offshore wind revolution that is powering homes and businesses across the UK, bringing investment into coastal communities and ensuring we maintain our position as global leaders in this growing sector."By 2030, a third of our electricity will come from offshore wind, generating thousands of high-quality jobs across the UK, a strong UK supply chain and a five-fold increase in exports."

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UK wind industry expected to support 27,000 jobs by 2030

Lawrence Slade, chief executive of the Energy UK operation, added, "Today's sector deal, and continued investment from industry, will create a global offshore wind market set to be worth £30 billion a year by 2030 and further cement the UK's position as a world-leader in offshore wind."The offshore wind industry has been a great success story for the UK, bringing thousands of skilled jobs and billions in investment while delivering clean energy at an ever-falling cost to customers."News of the deal followed an announcement by Scottish Power - which transitioned to 100 per cent renewable energy last year - of a £2 billion investment in its UK operations this year.The investment is part of a £6 billion fund the company plans to pour into the UK by 2022, two-fifths of it going to renewable energy generation, including new offshore wind projects, with the remainder devoted to smarter enhanced networks and innovative services, including a string of fast car-charging stations across the country.

Scottish Power invest in wind, smart networks and electric car charging

Keith Anderson, CEO of Scottish Power, said, “The Offshore Wind Sector Deal will drive the transformation of offshore wind generation, increasing the amount of low-cost, low-carbon generation for the UK and proves that the idea utilities still need to rely on coal and gas is outdated.“Scottish Power is proof that offshore wind works. We’ve worked tirelessly to bring down costs and, having transitioned to 100 per cent renewable energy, will be building more wind farms to help the UK shift to a clearer electric economy."Two of our offshore windfarms in East Anglia will replace all of the old thermal generation we’ve sold and we are ready to invest more by actively pursuing future offshore projects both north and south of the border.“We have a fantastic supply chain already in place in the UK, from businesses in and around East Anglia to across England, across Scotland as well as Northern Ireland.“The sector deal will attract even more businesses in the UK to join the offshore wind supply chain and we are excited to see the transformative impact this will have on our projects”.Industry body RenewableUK added, "We're setting up a new body to develop the right skills for years to come, not only by offering apprenticeships, but also by helping experienced people from other parts of the energy sector, as well as the military, to make the change into offshore wind."We also want to ensure far more diversity in the industry, by reaching a target of at least 33 per cent women employees by 2030, and by recruiting people from a wider variety of ethnic backgrounds."Subscribe to Relocate Extra, our monthly newsletter, to get all the latest international assignments and global mobility news.Relocate’s new Global Mobility Toolkit provides free information, practical advice and support for HR, global mobility managers and global teams operating overseas.Access hundreds of global services and suppliers in our Online Directory

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