UK doubles down on offshore wind power – invests €65m in new area

The British government is investing £55m (€65m) into expanding a site in Scotland to make it the country’s first port able to make floating offshore wind turbines at scale.

The investment in the Port of Cromarty Firth comes as the UK also launched a consultancy process to "unleash" the North Sea’s potential to create clean energy, with a focus on renewable power and carbon capture and storage.

"This will support private investment into the technologies that will deliver the next generation of good jobs for North Sea workers, invest in local communities, cut carbon emissions and help the UK become energy secure," they government says in a statement.

Heart of Britain’s energy future

The Labour government views the North Sea as one of the keys to reaching its goal of having clean energy throughout the UK by 2030.

"The North Sea will be at the heart of Britain’s energy future," Energy Secretary Ed Miliband says.

Those plans could also present a massive opportunity for investors and innovators within the renewable energy sector.

The government’s aim is to find ways of harnessing the North Sea’s natural assets and existing infrastructure “to deploy new technologies – like hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, and renewables – to create skilled jobs, meet the UK’s climate obligations, and make the UK a clean energy superpower.”

The expansion at Cromarty Firth is expected to create up 1,000 jobs, while the larger plans for the North Sea could create many more. 

"The biggest offshore wind farms in the world are being built in the North Sea and even more ambitious projects are being planned," says Dan McGrail, chief executive of trade organisation RenewableUK.

"The North Sea is already playing a crucial role in powering the UK and this is set to grow in the years ahead. A future focused on offshore wind isn’t just cleaner – it provides a more stable energy system for billpayers as we will be less exposed to volatile international fossil fuel prices. Offshore wind also offers opportunities for skilled workers from other industries to transfer into this dynamic and innovative sector."