A radical reformist approach to policy is vital as the golden age of renewables emerges with the Humber at the heart, according to a key 海角视频 sector figure.
Getting conditions right at home will ensure companies continue to play leading roles around the world, Renewable海角视频 chief executive Dan McGrail said, using Offshore Wind Connections to press three key asks.
Grid network access, port investment and supply chain development were put at the fore by the head of the leading trade body, keen to remove barriers to rapid deployment.
Read more: Humber's offshore wind exemplar status toasted as huge conference opens
鈥淚nnovation in offshore wind is happening in the Humber,鈥 Mr McGrail said. 鈥淭he industry is at the core of the government flagship energy policy, with a target of 50GW by 2030. People may think that is not achievable, but the Labour Party wants 60GW. I don鈥檛 say that to make a political point, just that the political parties are fighting it out to have the boldest, most ambitious green energy policies.
鈥淚 believe 50GW is possible, and 60GW, if we have a radical reformist approach.鈥
Outlining how the past decade has been about driving the cost down, he said now the focus must be delivery.
鈥淚f we can unlock this, the opportunity is huge. The scope for automation, to digitalise and for subsea technology plays to the 海角视频 strengths, so too composite materials and robotics. It only happens if the policy model enables it, and ours has been stubbornly stuck on cost reduction.
鈥淔or economic sustainability, the value provided far outweighs the cost. It is a statement of the blindingly obvious, but people will only do business if it is profitable. Competitiveness of the 海角视频 is under threat from other economies, but we still have a number of advantages, all the knowhow we have built, we have developed deeper, muscle memory, and we are getting better at it.
鈥淭his vision for industry also speaks right to levelling up. If we build on the great work over the past decade, it can be a beacon of aspiration, attracting people to excellent careers in the places they are from, building excellent careers.鈥
Grid connection was brought into extreme focus by Danielle Lane, director of offshore development at RWE. The company is behind the dual wind farm developments Dogger Bank South, set to provide a further 3GW for the 海角视频, building on operational and under construction wind farms to be served from Grimsby.
鈥淎t this point we don鈥檛 have valid connection offers for Round Four projects,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t is one of the real big problems we have for developments at the moment.
鈥淕overnment in all guises is promoting really big numbers for offshore wind. As a person who works in the industry, it is great, and really exciting, but slightly unnerving. There are only seven years left to 2030, we know we can deliver a lot in that period, but we cannot do it if we don鈥檛 have a grid connection.
鈥淒ogger Bank South could be really key to meeting 2030 ambition, but unless we get that connection we won鈥檛 be hitting that target.鈥
Read next:
Two new state-of-the-art offshore wind vessels are heading to Grimsby
Orsted committed to 'green-lighting' 拢8b Hornsea Three offshore wind farm
Maritime 海角视频's Offshore Wind Plan launches in Grimsby
Port of Grimsby to progress green vessel infrastructure work after feasibility project success
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