Record year for investment in offshore wind manufacturing

2021 has seen a record £900m worth of investment in offshore wind manufacturing. 

According to analysis conducted by RenewablesUK, this is the highest annual amount since the industry began in 2000. 

As part of the industry’s commitment to increase UK infrastructure by 60% by 2030, grants and business support worth £4.5m have been awarded so far this year to 76 supply chain companies by the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership, a £100m fund set up by the industry. 

This week JDR Cables unveiled plans to build a new factory in Cambois near Blyth in Northumberland, creating 170 jobs. 

July also saw two other major announcements, South Korean company SeAH Wind is investing £260m over three years in offshore wind turbines, creating 750 direct jobs. 

RenewableUK’s CEO Dan McGrail said: ‘This record year of over £900m of investment in major British offshore wind manufacturing plants shows that the 2020s is the decade of delivery for the UK’s offshore wind sector.

‘The offshore wind industry is making good on its commitments to create tens of thousands of jobs and attract billions in investment in state-of-the-art factories around the country. 26,000 people already work in this sector and that’s set to increase to 69,000 over the next five years.

‘The Government is playing an important role in securing supply chain investment by providing strategic funding support to deliver the green economic recovery this country needs. This new funding to develop world-class offshore wind hubs in ports like Teesside and the Humber is a clear example of levelling-up in action.’

Photo by American Public Power Association