Humber has "most to gain" from offshore strategy

The Government’s new offshore wind strategy has been welcomed by Humber LEP, who say the area is well placed to create the thousands of jobs.

Nick Clegg and Energy Minister Ed Davey launched the long-term strategy for offshore wind in the UK on a visit to Lincs wind farm and includes £56m of investment.

The strategy includes a £20m investment pot from the Regional Growth Fund for GROW: Offshore Wind, a supply chain support programme; £46m funding over five years for the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult Centre to join up industry, government and academia; and a new Offshore Wind Investment Organisation, established by UKTI.

Humber LEP specifically welcomed one proposal that would require developers of offshore wind farms above a certain size to produce a supply chain plan before they can apply for a Contract for Difference - a plan supporting innovation and skills.

The LEP say it would help to make sure supply chain and employees are sources locally, spreading benefit across the region.

Lord Haskins, chairman of the Humber LEP, said: “The Government is right to recognise offshore wind as a major growth opportunity, and I hope that this industrial strategy will help the UK capture more of the economic benefit from it. The Humber is already playing a leading role, but also has the most to gain.

“Anything that creates further confidence in the sector in the UK and the Humber is very welcome and the strategy which formalises the Government’s commitment to the sector will help.

“The fact that the Deputy Prime Minister chose to launch this strategy from the Humber again underlines our potential for offshore wind and the confidence in our ability to deliver.

“We have worked with Government to put in place incentives to support offshore wind developments around the Humber, including the Enterprise Zones and Regional Growth Fund. The next step, through the powers we are seeking in the City Deal, will be to provide more support for local people to access the jobs created.”

The Port of Grimsby, part of Humber Enterprise Zone, was used as a case study in the Government’s report, that detailed rounds 1, 2 and 3 offshore wind farms currently under construction or in the planning phase off the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire coasts.

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