Investment call in renewable energy
A TEES Valley energy specialist has called for major investment in renewable energy after one of the UK’s largest offshore wind farms was given the go-ahead yesterday.
Paul Gibson, chief executive of Teesport-based MPI Offshore - formerly Marine Projects International - has welcomed the decision on a wind farm that will provide the equivalent of around 372,000 homes with clean green electricity.
But he added that major wind farm production would be hindered in the short term by a skills shortage in the supply chain. Yesterday Prime Minister Gordon Brown vowed to free Britain from the “dictatorship of oil” and invest billions of pounds in nuclear and renewable energy sources to counter the effects of soaring fuel prices. The first move was to give the go-ahead for 139 turbine offshore wind farm near Walney Island off the coast of Barrow-in-Furness - one of the largest installations in the UK.
The project will dwarf a 30-turbine scheme which was constructed nearby, four miles off the South Cumbrian coast, in May 2006.
Mr Gibson said: “Gordon Brown’s announcements are good news for the industry. There will be a lot of work, which will keep us going until 2030.
“His calls for more investment into renewables are all well and good, but there is a big problem in the supply chain and huge skills shortages at the moment, there are not enough vessels to install or turbine manufacturers to cover demand.
“The problem will eventually sort itself out, but it’s likely the short term targets will be missed.”
The Government’s intention is that 20% of the electricity mix from renewable sources by 2020 - with one third coming from wind power.
MPI Offshore, which has a wind power installation vessel, Resolution, has announced a £200m project to construct two new wind power installation vessels each with a 400MW capacity.
The surge in wind farms is part of a drive to boost Britain’s renewable energy output.
Energy Secretary John Hutton has also approved an updated application from Ormonde Energy Limited to build a 150MW wind farm with up to 30 turbines also situated near Walney Island.
