Industry group says offshore wind delivering on cost-reduction commitment

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

OWPB consists of representatives of the industry, members of the Government and key stakeholders such as The Crown Estate. It holds the task of meeting the five priorities of the Offshore Wind Industry Council as part of the Government’s strategy. The priorities are:

1. To build a sustainable, competitive and capable UK supply chain.

2. To demonstrate falling costs.

3. Creation of a skilled industry to develop and promote offshore wind.

4. Address barriers to companies to bring new innovations to the market.

5. To encourage finance into the sector including utilizing the Green Investment Bank.

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 are 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, added: “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.”