UK offshore wind sector still ‘confident’ despite tough year
Confidence bent but not broken in offshore wind, although skills shortage and project visibility are areas of concern
The UK offshore wind sector remains “confident” of growth despite a year that has seen it buffeted by inflation and supply chain pressures, according to a new survey.
The Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult’s second annual survey on the sector found that companies remain optimistic about revenue and employment over the short, medium and long term.
A difficult year has left a mark, however, with 25% of respondents reporting a decline in confidence over the last year, up from 4% in last year’s survey.
“Ambitious national deployment targets and a large pipeline of projects support a high degree of confidence in continued growth within the UK’s offshore wind industry over the coming years,” said ORE Catapult chief executive Andrew Jamieson.
This will ensure that the UK keeps its standing as a "frontrunner in global offshore wind,” he said, adding that the recent AR6 announcement reflects the government’s commitment to the sector and the "pivotal role" it must play in reaching net zero.
Of the 123 companies that responded to the survey, 51% were from the renewables sector, while oil and gas was the next biggest grouping on 26%. The remainder was split between areas such as transport and construction.
Companies did report concerns about skills shortages, although nevertheless remained optimistic about future employment growth – with 63% predicting an increase over the next year and 89% over the period to 2030.
There was also concern about the visibility of the future pipeline of projects. The survey recommended the development “as soon as possible” of a single national portal developers can use to post upcoming procurement opportunities.
RenewableUK’s Chief Executive Dan McGrail said: “The offshore wind industry is working closely with the government to maximise the number of jobs we can deliver and the amount of private investment we can attract at a time of intense international competition.”
“The industry estimates that the offshore wind supply chain could boost the UK's economy by £92bn by 2040, and the confidence demonstrated in the survey demonstrates we’re on the right track.”
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