Government commits £160m to expanding offshore wind sector

The government has committed £160m and appointed a new advocate for offshore wind, as part of plans to advance the sector.

Tim Pick, who has 25 years of experience of working with energy development projects, has been made the first UK Offshore Wind Champion.

Mr Pick will help to speed up offshore wind projects as chair of the Offshore Wind Acceleration Taskforce (OWAT) which will get companies across the sector to coordinate efforts.

£160m will also be given to support offshore wind manufacturers through the Floating Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme (FLOWMIS).

Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: ‘We are delighted to appoint Tim Pick as the UK’s first Offshore Wind Champion and begin the process of supporting British jobs and offshore wind manufacturers with £160 million of government funding.

‘Our announcement today represents another important step in our ambitious plans to accelerate offshore wind as a source of affordable, homegrown energy for the UK and drive down bills for households.’

The government has now asked for the industry to provide more information on how the £160m can be invested effectively to boost floating offshore wind capabilities across the UK and give investors confidence in backing the sector.

A portion of the fund will go towards two floating offshore wind projects on the Scottish coast, Hywind Scotland and Kincardine, to unlock deepwater port infrastructure and support private investment in new factories.

The sector is already expanding, with 15GW’s of floating offshore wind to be leased in Scotland and 4GW to be leased off the Welsh coast which could require over a thousand floating wind foundations.

In related news, environmental consultant Stephen Cirell has explored the benefits of onshore wind and why its use has been met with such resistance. 

Photo by Nicholas Doherty