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UK's offshore wind achievements highlighted

By: Lewis Holdsworth 06/03/2015 RenewableUK

General Turbines Windfarms

The Offshore Wind Programme Board, (OWPB), set up to remove barriers to deployment and deliver a programme for industry cost reduction in the UK offshore wind sector, has published its Annual Report for 2014.

The OWPB brings together representatives of the offshore wind industry, Government and key stakeholders such as The Crown Estate. It is tasked with delivering on the five priorities of the Offshore Wind Industry Council, set up as part of the Government’s wider industrial strategy.

In 2014 the OWPB commissioned the Cost Reduction Monitoring Framework (CRMF). The first CRMF Report, published last Friday, shows that the cost of offshore wind energy has fallen by almost 11% over the past four years, ahead of schedule on its path to delivering the shared industry and UK Government target of a levelised cost of energy of £100 per megawatt hour for projects reaching final investment decision in 2020.

In addition, the OWPB has led on the implementation of the recommendations of the Offshore Wind Industrial Strategy, and of the 2014 Chinn Review of the UK Offshore Wind Supply Chain.

Recognising that the development of offshore wind could create a new North Seas energy sector, in 2014 the OWPB was a founder of the Seastar Industrial Alliance, which brings together the British, German, Danish and Dutch offshore wind industries to work together on deployment and cost reduction.

The Industry Co-Chair of the OWPB, Adam Bruce of Mainstream Renewable Power, said:

“The offshore wind sector is making very significant progress on driving down costs. The publication of the CRMF Report, and the results of the first auction round for CfDs, show clearly that we are delivering on our commitment to the UK consumer. We’re already ahead of schedule on cost reduction, and we’re set to achieve our target of £100 per megawatt hour by 2020.

“The OWPB is a unique organisation in the power sector, bringing industry and government together around a defined programme to deploy offshore wind. Offshore wind has the potential to be the leading low carbon generation technology across Northern Europe through the 2020s. The UK has a clear leadership role, which will deliver real economic value and security of supply for the consumer.

“The UK offshore sector employs 13,000 in full time direct or indirect jobs. Major international companies such as Siemens and MHI Vestas Offshore Wind have committed to manufacturing in the UK, heralding a further expansion of the workforce. Industry research “shows that the number of people working in the offshore wind industry and the supply chain could treble within the next 10 years. Initiatives are already underway to develop the skill sets needed to maintain Britain’s global lead in the offshore wind sector, such as establishing a National College for Wind Energy”.

Alastair Dutton, Strategic Programme Manager at The Crown Estate and member of the OWPB, said: “Success is a team game and this year’s OWPB report demonstrates how the offshore wind sector is leading the way in industry collaboration to bring down costs and secure the material contribution that offshore wind can make to the UK’s energy mix over the long term.”

In its Annual Report, the OWPB reports on its five priorities, which are:

· To build a sustainable, competitive and capable UK supply chain – capitalising on investments to date and the strong pipeline of UK projects now in place, to further develop UK industrial capacity

· To demonstrate that costs are falling

· To create a skilled industry – developing and promoting offshore wind as a sector where skilled people can build careers, and making the most of the expertise developed to date

· To address barriers to companies bringing new innovations to the market

· To attract finance into the sector, including making best use of the Green Investment Bank.

Government and Industry are working together through the OWPB to coordinate action on these objectives. This partnership structure is helping encourage collaboration and learning in the offshore wind sector.

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UK's offshore wind achievements highlighted

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