December 2023
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This conference focussed on key issues for the UK offshore wind sector, what will be needed from policy and industry action to achieve growth, and its contribution towards energy security and net zero ambitions.
Delegates examined the Government’s strategy for maximising offshore wind energy, with the target to generate 50GW of offshore wind power by 2030.
It was an opportunity for stakeholders and policymakers to examine priorities for addressing rising costs and their impact on progressing project contracts, following the latest UK government auction in which no new offshore windfarms were secured.
Further sessions assessed UK-wide opportunities and challenges, as well as international considerations for the wind industry, including investor confidence, inflation in the supply chain, and capacity, storage and connectivity hurdles.
We are pleased to have been able to include keynote sessions with: Rebecca Sedler, Managing Director, Interconnectors, National Grid; Helena Charlton, Deputy Director for Renewable Electricity Delivery, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero; James Brabben, Senior Regulatory Affairs Manager, RWE; and Richard Crossick, Head of Public Affairs UK, Ørsted.
Overall, areas for discussion included:
- the UK energy mix: assessing the future for offshore wind energy - potential impact on energy security
- implementation priorities: the pathway for fully enabling the use of renewable and domestic energy sources to meet demand - maximising grid capacity, storage and connectivity
- market volatility: industry cost and energy price stabilisation - tackling supply chain barriers - priorities for policy, international agreements and sector action
- finance and investment: supporting investor confidence - options for increasing the attractiveness of contracts and financing opportunities for new and developing projects
- environmental protection: mitigating impact and effectively protecting the natural environment - safeguarding aquatic biodiversity in the construction and maintenance of wind farms and cables
- local economies: boosting opportunities for growth in green skills and jobs, and increased footfall, business development and investment - tackling remaining challenges for coastal communities
- UK-wide priorities and international relationships: developing interconnectors and offshore collaboration - offshore wind policy development, energy security and net zero targets across the UK
The conference was an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who attended from CCS; DAERA, NI; DBT; Defra; Department for Infrastructure, NI; Department for the Economy, NI; Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, ROI; Department of Finance, NI; DESNZ; DLUHC; GLD; Homes England; HSE; NAO; OBR; OEP; UKIB; The Scottish Government; and the Welsh Government - as well as parliamentary pass-holders from both Houses of Parliament.
