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40 new factories needed to cope with UK windfarm demand
As many as 40 new factories will be needed to build the components for the number of new British windfarms envisaged under the Government's renewable energy plans.
But so far only 10 factories have been built , according to a report published in partnership between RenewableUK and The Crown Estate.
The study highlights a "once in a generation" chance to attract major companies to the UK to build factories to supply the fast-growing offshore wind energy sector.
However, it warns that unless the UK seizes this unprecedented opportunity, the manufacturing advantage will be lost to European competitors.
Energy Minister Michael Fallon described offshore wind as "a British success story" and said of the new research: "This report sets out the enormous potential of this dynamic industry, which makes a crucial contribution to our clean energy mix".
The study, "Building an Industry", quantifies how many wind turbine factories and other manufacturing facilities (blades, cables and foundations) will be needed to fulfil the increase in demand up to 2020, not just from projects in UK waters, but to supply the rest of the European offshore wind energy sector as well.
It also specifies what the UK industry alone will need between now and 2030.
The Government's Renewable Energy Roadmap details the potential for 18 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind installed by 2020 - a significant increase from the 3.3GW installed so far.
The rest of Europe combined is expected to match this with another 18GW, to reach a total of 36GW by the end of the decade.
To install this, the report shows that Europe will need 64 major manufacturing facilities. Just over a third of these are already operational, and plans for a further third have been announced. Fewer than a quarter of these operational and planned facilities are in the UK - even though the UK is planning to build half Europe's offshore wind farm capacity between now and 2020.
The report also states that by 2030, the UK offshore wind sector will need as many as 7 turbine tower factories, 7 blade factories, 7 nacelle factories, 6 factories to build foundations, 6 factories to build offshore substations and 6 cable factories.
The sector will also require more than 20 huge seagoing vessels to install offshore turbines, and a further 230 vessels to carry workers to and from the turbines once they are operational.
This means that between now and 2030 the UK offshore wind sector will need:
• Up to 7,930 turbine towers
• Up to 23,790 blades will be required
• 9,080km of cables needed.
However, questions still remain about whether these components will be built in the UK.
RenewableUK's Chief Executive, Maria McCaffery, added: "This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. If we don't seize it, the large scale offshore wind supply chain factories of the future, making the enormous blades, towers and foundations that we'll need to retain the UK's global lead in offshore wind, will be sited elsewhere.
"The potential to create tens of thousands of green-collar manufacturing jobs hangs in the balance. We are determined to work with Government to ensure that the UK capitalises on this chance to build an industry which will be the envy of the rest of the world".
The report was launched at RenewableUK's annual Offshore Wind conference, which is taking place in Manchester today (June 12) and tomorrow.
And speaking at the Conference the Energy Minister announced that the Offshore Wind Investment Organisation will be created with the aim of increasing the levels of inward investment to the offshore wind energy sector in the UK.
Mr Fallon said this recognises the need of investors to have a stable, long-term policy framework for years to come and the importance of offshore wind to the future economy of the UK.
He added: "Offshore wind is a major success story for the UK, and we want to boost levels of inward investment. This will be an important part of our industrial strategy for the sector later this year, and we are creating the Offshore Wind Investment Organisation to drive that activity."
The study highlights a "once in a generation" chance to attract major companies to the UK to build factories to supply the fast-growing offshore wind energy sector.
However, it warns that unless the UK seizes this unprecedented opportunity, the manufacturing advantage will be lost to European competitors.
Energy Minister Michael Fallon described offshore wind as "a British success story" and said of the new research: "This report sets out the enormous potential of this dynamic industry, which makes a crucial contribution to our clean energy mix".
The study, "Building an Industry", quantifies how many wind turbine factories and other manufacturing facilities (blades, cables and foundations) will be needed to fulfil the increase in demand up to 2020, not just from projects in UK waters, but to supply the rest of the European offshore wind energy sector as well.
It also specifies what the UK industry alone will need between now and 2030.
The Government's Renewable Energy Roadmap details the potential for 18 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind installed by 2020 - a significant increase from the 3.3GW installed so far.
The rest of Europe combined is expected to match this with another 18GW, to reach a total of 36GW by the end of the decade.
To install this, the report shows that Europe will need 64 major manufacturing facilities. Just over a third of these are already operational, and plans for a further third have been announced. Fewer than a quarter of these operational and planned facilities are in the UK - even though the UK is planning to build half Europe's offshore wind farm capacity between now and 2020.
The report also states that by 2030, the UK offshore wind sector will need as many as 7 turbine tower factories, 7 blade factories, 7 nacelle factories, 6 factories to build foundations, 6 factories to build offshore substations and 6 cable factories.
The sector will also require more than 20 huge seagoing vessels to install offshore turbines, and a further 230 vessels to carry workers to and from the turbines once they are operational.
This means that between now and 2030 the UK offshore wind sector will need:
• Up to 7,930 turbine towers
• Up to 23,790 blades will be required
• 9,080km of cables needed.
However, questions still remain about whether these components will be built in the UK.
RenewableUK's Chief Executive, Maria McCaffery, added: "This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. If we don't seize it, the large scale offshore wind supply chain factories of the future, making the enormous blades, towers and foundations that we'll need to retain the UK's global lead in offshore wind, will be sited elsewhere.
"The potential to create tens of thousands of green-collar manufacturing jobs hangs in the balance. We are determined to work with Government to ensure that the UK capitalises on this chance to build an industry which will be the envy of the rest of the world".
The report was launched at RenewableUK's annual Offshore Wind conference, which is taking place in Manchester today (June 12) and tomorrow.
And speaking at the Conference the Energy Minister announced that the Offshore Wind Investment Organisation will be created with the aim of increasing the levels of inward investment to the offshore wind energy sector in the UK.
Mr Fallon said this recognises the need of investors to have a stable, long-term policy framework for years to come and the importance of offshore wind to the future economy of the UK.
He added: "Offshore wind is a major success story for the UK, and we want to boost levels of inward investment. This will be an important part of our industrial strategy for the sector later this year, and we are creating the Offshore Wind Investment Organisation to drive that activity."
