Wind News

Tuesday 02 March 2010

Maria McCaffery said a lack of technical skills in the sector needs to be addressed

Wind has a leading role to play in the "rebirth" of UK manufacturing following the election, Conservative party members have been told, but only if key policy areas are addressed.

Speaking at a Conservative spring conference event entitled "A green energy future" on Sunday (February 28), Maria McCaffery, chief executive of the BWEA, said that during the next Parliament, whichever party was in power would need to create a secure financial framework for investors.

Wind offered an opportunity as it was the only technology that could realistically replace the large coal and nuclear plants due to come offline in the next decade, she said, and added that installed wind capacity would overtake nuclear by the end of 2012.

Ms McCaffery claimed that Round 3 could see up to £120 billion of private sector investment pour into the UK, but only if the country could sort out policy issues such as market stability, grid access, and the lack of a supply chain or workers with the right skills.

"The UK's energy supply will be transformed over the next decade. We will see a move to renewable energy, and a vast increase in the amount of offshore wind," she said.

"The question for the next Government is where will it be built, and where will the revenues accrue."

Investment

Ms McCaffery said Danish support for onshore wind had seen the industry contribute £2.7 billion a year to the country's economy and added that with similar support - including a continued commitment to the Renewables Obligation - the UK could lead the off-shore supply chain and capitalise on a steady stream of orders.

Ms McCaffery also bemoaned the lack of skilled technicians and engineers with suitable skills. One in four schools did not have a qualified physics teacher, she claimed, adding that this needed to be tackled to create "the human capital for our renewable economy revolution".

"Already we see too few school-leavers with qualifications in science and engineering," she said.

"If we are to truly commit to building a renewable energy future, this needs to be reversed."

Hubs

Part of this vision would see renewable energy hubs centred around ports selected for investment. These would echo Aberdeen's role in the expansion of oil and gas, providing the expertise and equipment needed for offshore wind.

"From Jutland in Denmark to Bremerhaven in Germany, we have seen ports rejuvenated through careful selection. That is what we want to see the next Government do. We propose renewable energy hubs - areas where we can see the goods, services and skills that are needed for industry all in one place," she said.

Finally, the next government must also invest in updating the grid to cope with higher loads, she claimed, while grid connections for renewables would also need to be expedited.

She concluded that UK and international players were poised to grab this opportunity, but it would require commitment and investment from the next government.

"The industry is ready and willing to base itself in the UK and urges politicians to play their part in delivering a low carbon economy, and investing in the UK's future."

The BWEA is to become RenewableUK from Thursday (March 4).