‘The Future’s Floating’

(WK-intern) – Today, on the occasion of the Oceanology conference, the Friends of Floating Offshore Wind release their position paper ‘The Future’s Floating’ requesting discussions on a Sector Deal with the UK government on the basis of socio-economic impact calculations.

Floating Offshore Wind is on the pathway to become commercially competitive with other forms of electricity generation and has the potential to further reduce the generation cost of offshore wind, particularly in deep water and challenging seabed sites.

This creates a new market with the associated supply chain, employment and export opportunities from which first movers and those with experience in related fields such as offshore oil and gas or maritime will benefit most.

Calculations of the local Gross Value Added underpin that the GVA returns justify the investment in supporting pilot and particularly pre-commercial arrays, where the GVA exceeds the cost of support. The support of these projects would also offer local employment and the development of local supply chains for export markets, especially in deprived areas or where the transition and diversification from oil & gas is needed the most.

Therefore, the Friends of Floating Offshore Wind call for a commitment to target 1 GW of floating offshore wind in development and realisation by 2025 and 5 GW by 2030. The group also request discussions around a Sector Deal which offers support for the technology, either separately or as part of the wider Offshore Wind Sector Deal, to determine how the route to this market can be facilitated at the least cost for tax and bill payers.

About The Friends of Floating Offshore Wind
The Friends of Floating Offshore Wind are a representative group of companies with deep knowledge and strong interest in the development of the floating offshore wind market. The group wish to create a route to market for floating offshore wind which enables commercialisation of the technology. Members consist of technology developers, project developers, engineering consultants, suppliers and contractors.

The organisation is directed by an elected committee of four of its members, (a Chair and three supporting co-chairs) who lead activities on behalf of its members. The organisation does not operate under a member’s fees basis but on a voluntary support structure which relies on its members ongoing commitment and support.
Chris McConville, Chairman of the Friends of Floating Offshore Wind:

“Our position paper makes a compelling case for supporting floating offshore wind with a route to market in the UK. The technology ticks all the boxes of the UK’s Industrial Strategy and aligns with the vision for a transformed economy. Not making use of this opportunity would mean leaving the benefits of this promising industry to other nations, a mistake we can’t afford to make again.”
floatingpowerplant.com

PR: Friends of Floating Offshore Wind

Pressebild: floatingpowerplant