Government support for offshore renewable engineering
Siemens call for more investment in research and development in offshore renewable engineering may have been met this week Photo: Siemens
The news that the Government has pledged support for developing five centres for offshore renewable engineering this week will come as welcome news to the industry.
The new National Infrastructure Plan announced by Chancellor George Osborne in his Autumn Statement this week, includes plans for the new centres in Humber, Tees, Tyne, Lowestoft/Great Yarmouth and Sheerness. The centres will be tasked with providing support for businesses seeking to invest in manufacturing for the renewables sector.
Energy Minister Charles Hendry has also given consent to DONG energy for the construction of a new offshore windfarm off the Yorkshire coast at Westermost Rough. The 245MW windfarm is expected to create 1,000 jobs during its construction.
This will no doubt all come as welcome news to Siemens whose managing director, Juergen Maier, at the Leeds Business of Manufacturing event last week, said that when it comes to the rapidly growing sector of offshore and renewable energy: “The UK should be investing more heavily, and research and development”. He warned that if Britain don’t match up to German and Danish investment, the country will simply miss out.
Siemens has recently invested £1.2 million in transferring its mechanical drives business to Leeds where it will manufacture components for offshore wind turbines in support of its Hull plant.
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