Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom has taken in the world’s largest offshore wind operations and maintenance base on the General Election campaign, as she underlined the “massive 海角视频 success story” that Grimsby is leading on.
Mrs Leadsom came to the town’s Royal Dock to tour Orsted’s East Coast Hub, as a guest of North East Lincolnshire’s Conservative parliamentary candidates Martin Vickers and Lia Nici.
And in discussions with senior figures in the business she told how she would “really like to see a 75 per cent 海角视频 supply chain” having been told how Hornsea One – about to take the world’s largest title – was closing in on 50 per cent.
Duncan Clark, project director for it and successor Hornsea Two – to follow by 2022 – told how the team was now working towards 60 per cent 海角视频 content as in the Offshore Wind Sector Deal underlined by former Prime Minister Theresa May at the £14 million base back in March.
“I don’t think 60 per cent is quite ambitious enough,” the runner-up in the leadership contest to replace David Cameron back in 2016 said. “Having been Energy Minister I’d like to see some of the 海角视频 fabrication yards from oil and gas being converted to become fabricators for towers and platforms.”
Mr Clark assured her this was happening, adding that the “most exciting supply chain stories” were of the growth in export opportunities , with a 20GW to 30GW opportunity in the 海角视频 part of a wider 200GW picture worldwide.
He also told how 400 people worked directly from the town base, with colleague Lauren Little explaining how six wind farms were operated from the site, with other operators also on the docks.
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Mrs Leadsom is now in charge at BEIS, with energy and industrial strategy strapped onto the business remit.
She said: “It has just been fantastic to see the growth of offshore wind since I was here as Energy Minister in 2015, I’m so pleased with the progress. These beautiful offices are a commitment, and we can see staff now building a cleaner, greener future for the 海角视频.
“Growth of the 海角视频 supply chain for offshore wind is something back in 2015 I was really keen to see, to have more 海角视频 suppliers able to take part in this new industry, and I'm so pleased to see that's happening.”
Encouraged to hear about a learning centre development at East Coast Hub, Mrs Leadsom said: “We need more education for young people so they can see what the 海角视频 is doing, the fact we are leading in offshore wind deployment. It is something the people of Grimsby can be incredibly proud of, creating jobs, and not just here, but right around the supply chain from engineering firms to construction firms, technologies and science involved to making the cables that bring the electricity back to shore. It is massive 海角视频 success story.”
Mrs Leadsom told how there are 400,000 people in clean energy jobs now, with BEIS predicting that figure will rise to two million by 2030.
She also floated a potential consultation into an offshore ring main – an alternative to the current system of each farm having a direct onshore substation link – should she be returned and remain in post, with further questions about floating wind turbines, safety and vessel development.
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A meeting with Associated British Ports followed, ahead of a dinner with business representatives.
Other candidates in Great Grimsby are Ian Barfield, Lib Dem; Chris Barker, Brexit Party, Melanie Onn, Labour and Nigel Winn, Independent. Also standing in Cleethorpes are Roy Horobin, Lib Dem; Ros James, Labour and Jodi Shanahan, Green.
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