Wind of change
A TEESSIDE industry chief has welcomed Government plans, unveiled today, to put the North-east at the centre of Britain’s offshore wind expansion.
Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks, who was due to visit to the region today, has said expansion in offshore wind could create up to 30,000 new jobs in manufacturing and bring £3bn of investment to the North-east.
Stan Higgins, chief executive of the North East Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC), believes new wind farms could create hundreds of jobs in the manufacturing and engineering supply chains.
But he also said a major investment in nuclear energy was more important for Britain’s energy needs.
“Our energy requirements are centred on finding ways to cheapen access to oil, gas and electricity,” he said. “It is great that the North-east is taking the lead on wind power, and many of these 30,000 jobs will provide opportunities in engineering.
“However, wind energy will only provide around 15-20% of Britain’s overall energy needs. New nuclear power stations will provide the bulk of our energy reserves.”
He also said the region needed to produce more skilled labour to be able to build a modern energy infrastructure including new power stations and wind farms.
“Some of the best paid workers are in engineering and science,” he said.
The Energy Minister’s tour of the region was due to include a visit to the New and Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC) at Blyth, which
is emerging as a world-leading centre for new renewable technologies, particularly offshore wind.
Californian energy giant Clipper Wind is to invest at the centre by developing the world’s largest wind turbine, which will be almost ten times taller than the famous Angel of the North.
An estimated 3,000 extra offshore wind turbines will be needed to help the UK meet an EU target of 15% of total energy generated from renewable sources by 2020.
Mr Wicks said: “The North-east already has a wealth of skills and experience in the manufacturing sector to diversify in to the green energy market.”
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