The Prime Minister has set out new plans to Build Back Greener by
making the UK the world leader in clean wind energy – creating
jobs, slashing carbon emissions and boosting exports.
£160 million will be made available to upgrade ports and
infrastructure across communities like in Teesside and Humber in
Northern England, Scotland and Wales to hugely increase our
offshore wind capacity, which is already the largest in the world
and currently meets 10 per cent of our electricity demand.
This new investment will see around 2,000 construction jobs
rapidly created and will enable the sector to support up to
60,000 jobs directly and indirectly by 2030 in ports, factories
and the supply chains, manufacturing the next-generation of
offshore wind turbines and delivering clean energy to the UK.
Through this, UK businesses including smaller suppliers will be
well-placed to win orders and further investment from energy
companies around the world and increase their competitive
standing on the global stage, as well as supporting low-carbon
supply chains.
The Prime Minister has also set out further commitments to ensure
that, within the decade, the UK will be at the forefront of the
green industrial revolution as we accelerate our progress towards
net zero emissions by 2050.
These include:
- Confirming offshore wind will produce more than enough
electricity to power every home in the country by 2030, boosting
the Government’s previous 30GW target to 40GW.
- Creating a new target for floating offshore wind to deliver
1GW of energy by 2030, which is over 15 times the current volumes
worldwide. Building on the strengths of our North Sea, this brand
new technology allows windfarms to be built further out to sea in
deeper waters, boosting capacity even further where winds are
strongest and ensuring the UK remains at the forefront of the
next generation of clean energy.
- Setting a target to support up to double the capacity of
renewable energy in the next Contracts for Difference auction,
which will open in late 2021 - providing enough clean, low cost
energy to power up to 14 million homes
These commitments are the first stage outlined as part of the
Prime Minister’s ten-point plan for a green industrial
revolution, which will be set out fully later this year. This is
expected to include ambitious targets and major investment into
industries, innovation and infrastructure that will accelerate
the UK’s path to net zero by 2050.
Prime Minister said:
“Our seas hold immense potential to power our homes and
communities with low-cost green energy and we are already leading
the way in harnessing its strengths.
“Now, as we build back better we must build back greener. So we
are committing to new ambitious targets and investment into wind
power to accelerate our progress towards net zero emissions by
2050.
“This sets us on our path towards a green industrial revolution,
which will provide tens of thousands of highly-skilled jobs.”
Together with planned stringent requirements on supporting UK
manufacturers in Government-backed renewables projects, these
measures will mean the industry can reach its target of 60% of
offshore wind farm content coming from the UK.
Business and Energy Secretary said:
“The offshore wind sector is a major British success story,
providing cheap, green electricity while supporting thousands of
good-quality jobs.
“Powering every home in the country through offshore wind is
hugely ambitious, but it’s exactly this kind of ambition which
will mean we can build back greener and reach net zero emissions
by 2050.”
Today’s announcement marks the latest stage of the Government’s
support for renewable energy. Last September the third round of
the Contracts for Difference renewable energy auction delivered
record-low prices on enough clean energy to power 7 million
homes. Earlier this year the Government announced the next round
would be open to onshore wind and solar projects for the first
time since 2015.
The UK has the largest installed capacity of offshore wind in the
world, with around 10GW in operation off its coasts.
The Government’s plan for renewable energy forms part of wider
efforts to ensure the UK meets its legally binding target to
reach net zero emissions by 2050 and build back greener from
coronavirus.
Over the past decade, the UK has cut carbon emissions by more
than any similar developed country. In 2019, UK emissions were 42
per cent lower than in 1990, while our economy over the same
period grew by 72 per cent.
