UK offshore wind's 'purchasing power' can speed global energy transition: COP26 boss Sharma
Former UK energy secretary tells offshore wind conference in London that Britain's 'success story' in the sector needs to be communicated internationally to 'drive change in the global economy'
COP26 president Alok Sharma has called on the UK offshore wind industry to use its “purchasing power” to accelerate Britain’s – and the world’s – transition toward net zero.
Speaking by video-link to delegates of RenewableUK’s Global Offshore Wind conference in London, Sharma – who gave up his role as UK energy secretary to focus full-time on the United Nations Climate Change Summit in Glasgow in November – said the the sector’s “story of success” should be communicated to “international partners… to unlock the potential of offshore wind to decarbonise their power supplies”.
“We’ve grown the largest offshore wind sector in the world, creating entirely new industrial hubs and good green jobs, which is helping us to reach net zero by 2050,” he said.
“I urge all companies here to support our wider COP26 efforts by driving action across your supply chains, encouraging your suppliers to commit to net zero and working with them to reduce emissions.”
“In short, use your purchasing power to drive change across the global economy, just as you’re using your inventiveness and acumen to drive the clean energy transition across the world,” said Sharma.
Greg Hands, speaking for the first time since taking over the energy and climate change ministerial role from now-business minister Kwasi Kwarteng, described the UK offshore wind sector as “the lynchpin in our efforts to reach net zero”, noting that the industry was in “prime position” in Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s ‘Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution’.