New strategy to tap into offshore wind potential
ANEW regional strategy has been launched outlining how the South West and Wales can maximise the economic benefits of floating offshore wind power.
The Celtic Sea Cluster strategy will allow the region’s stakeholders to ensure activities are aligned and can achieve common objectives in line with a forthcoming Celtic Sea leasing process being delivered by The Crown Estate.
The Celtic Sea Cluster is led by its founding partners, the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership, Welsh Government, Celtic Sea Power, Marine Energy Wales and the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult.
The Cluster’s ambition is to establish the Celtic Sea region as a world leader in floating offshore wind (FLOW) by 2030, laying the foundations for a new sustainable long-term industry. This will help the UK to be at the forefront of the green industrial revolution as it accelerates its progress towards net zero.
Those behind the scheme say that floating wind in the Celtic Sea will create a completely new industry in the region, bringing new high value jobs and export opportunities and strengthening the local economy. It will build on existing regional capabilities in offshore renewables and enable access to a fast-growing global market.
The Regional Strategy promises to galvanise the regional supply chains; provide a single voice to engage with governments, regulators, and project developers; find innovative ways to accelerate deployment; and work with Celtic Sea users to protect the onshore and offshore environment.
Steve Jermy, non-executive director at the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “The Celtic Sea Cluster team driving the development of FLOW in the Celtic Sea is determined to create a world-leading new industry for the region. This is an ambitious mission but, working together in full alignment, we are confident that our strategy will provide a platform for an economic transformation across Cornwall, Wales and South West England.”
Vaughan Gething MS, Welsh Government Minister for Economy, said: “The opportunity to deliver 4GW of floating wind in the Celtic Sea by 2035, with potential to grow to 20GW by 2045, is a massive undertaking. Success requires collaboration and strategic development to enable the deployment of sustainable, green, energy generation. Working across borders we can play to each other’s strengths, identify gaps, and seek to maximise strategic benefit to the regions we support.
“The Celtic Sea Regional Strategy will provide the direction necessary to enable Wales and South West England to collaborate and maximise the huge economic opportunity offered by floating offshore wind.
“A single pan region strategy ensures individual local plans can focus on harnessing existing local strengths, targeting opportunities to galvanise supply chains and find innovative ways to accelerate deployment which collectively will achieve the strategy objectives.”
The Cluster has over 240 members, including developers and supply chain companies with an interest in floating wind in the Celtic Sea. The Celtic Sea Cluster is free to join through the website www.CelticSeaCluster.com