The Industrial Growth Plan (IGP), published in April 2024, sets out an ambitious vision for harnessing the potential of the offshore wind industry to drive clean energy and economic growth. Developed by Renewable UK, Offshore Wind Industry Council, The Crown Estate and The Crown Estate Scotland, this roadmap highlights a targeted approach to tripling manufacturing capacity, doubling research investment and creating tens of thousands of jobs.
The report outlines five priority areas in which the UK has the potential to become a global technology leader. These are:
- Advanced Turbine Technologies
- Industrialised Foundations & Substructures
- Future Electrical Systems & Cables
- Smart Environmental Services
- Next Generation Installation and O&M
Engaging and implementing the steps of the IGP has a plethora of benefits, not only for the environment but also for the economy, in terms of growth and energy security. Substantial investment is needed for offshore wind energy, both from the public and private sectors, which promotes job creation, economic output, and overall income growth. This investment in offshore wind can potentially stimulate more continuous investment by providing healthy returns and helping to drive innovation, cost reductions and further investment, resulting in £25 billion GVA over 10 years.
ORE Catapult has been, and will continue to be, central to innovation in the sector, accelerating development and driving down costs. For example, the Floating Offshore Wind Cost Reduction project we lead aligns closely with the IGP’s ambitions to be a global leader in Industrialised Foundations and Substructures. Through our unique and world-leading facilities we have also demonstrated an important role in advancing cable technology, providing expertise and extensive testing capabilities that accelerate and de-risk innovation.
In addition, we are working in a number of ways to help unleash the UK’s potential to adopt smart technology, such as our ACORD programme, which is presenting a suite of innovative recommendations to enhance environmental impact assessments, to reduce consenting times by as much as half.
This work, plus much more, can help enable action to maximise the opportunity for the UK to grow its offshore wind workforce.
We all want to see more UK jobs from offshore wind, but those jobs must be both attractive and sustainable. This starts with acknowledging the difference the jobs delivered by capital expenditure (CAPEX) at the development stage of projects, and operational expenditure (OPEX). Employment generated at the CAPEX is large in terms of the Full-Time Equivalents, but the length of the employment is relatively short. However, at the OPEX stage, fewer jobs are required, but they are required for the whole lifetime of a wind farm. In addition, there is expected to be a higher local content associated with OPEX job opportunities, exceeding 80% in most cases.
The economic opportunities are massive if we achieve higher local content and boost investment in the supply chain leading to greater and more efficient deployment. Offshore wind has the potential to positively influence and transform the labour market and economy as we see it today.
Transitioning to clean power sources and achieving Net-Zero is a huge task which comes with many challenges, but none that cannot be solved through the right approach to collaboration and innovation. ORE Catapult will play a vital role in achieving the UK’s ambitious goals for offshore wind set out in the IGP. By spearheading advanced turbine testing, supporting cable and material innovation, and pioneering next-generation operations and maintenance technologies, we act as a catalyst for development. The sector stands poised to transform the UK economy, with significant job creation, economic output and industrial revitalisation, highlighting the value of continued investment and a commitment to the Net-Zero transition.