Regional Growth Prospectuses released on May 19, by the UK Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC) and The Crown Estate set out how coastal regions around the country can expand their activities in key parts of the UK’s rapidly growing offshore wind supply chain.

This would create and sustain an additional 10,000 new jobs, on top of the 100,000 already expected in the industry, and boost the UK’s economy by over £25 billion between now and 2035.

The prospectuses build on the sector’s Industrial Growth Plan (IGP) for offshore wind, which set out national priorities to maximize growth by manufacturing key components such as turbine towers, blades, foundations and cables, as well as building and maintaining offshore wind farms and providing high-value services such as environmental surveying. Ports are vital to maximize the opportunities set out in the Industrial Growth Plan and are highlighted in the prospectuses, reflecting their significant role in driving economic and industrial development.

Each prospectus is tailored to a specific offshore wind “cluster”—a coastal region where companies involved in the sector are already concentrated, and where there is an expectation that other firms will join them as the industry’s supply chain continues to grow. The idea was initiated by the clusters themselves in the OWIC clusters forum, and they have all  been involved in the project to compile the prospectuses:

• Offshore Energy Alliance (North Wales and North West England)
• Celtic Sea Cluster (South Wales and South West England)
• EastWind Cluster (East of England)
• The Humber Offshore Wind Cluster (Humber Region)
• Energi Coast Cluster (North East England)
• The Clean Energy Cluster (Scotland)
• Northern Ireland Maritime & Offshore cluster (Northern Ireland)
  

(Image credit: Offshore Wind Industry Council/The Crown Estate)

The South East of England has also been included in this work, recognizing its offshore wind capabilities and opportunities. The prospectuses contain detailed analyses of the coastal regions which are best placed to undertake each specific activity set out in the IGP, including where the UK could build on existing facilities where huge components such as blades and cables are already being manufactured at scale and exported worldwide.    

For example, clusters in the Humber, the north east of England, Northern Ireland and Scotland have opportunities to focus on advanced turbine technology including manufacturing blades and turbine towers, as this would add up to £8bn to the UK economy over the next ten years.

Seven clusters aim to develop new capabilities in turbine foundations (including massive substructures for floating offshore wind), adding up to £12 billion between now and 2035. 

Four clusters are targeting the cables and electrical systems needed to meet our offshore wind ambitions, adding up to £3.4bn. 

There are major opportunities in seven clusters to expand activity installing, operating and maintaining offshore wind farms, worth £2bn, and five clusters could become centers for environmental services worth £0.5bn.                   

The prospectuses and more details on the clusters are available here.