During the trade body’s Global Offshore Wind event in Manchester, McNeal noted that the offshore wind is bringing more than £20bn in investment to the UK in the current decade, supported by two Conservative-led governments.
McNeal said that renewable energy is a part of a new energy mainstream in Britain and around the world. It is also securing investment, delivering transformative and revolutionary change.
Urging the industry to highlight the offshore wind’s economic benefits to the UK, McNeal noted: "We offer a pipeline of offshore wind projects ready to be deployed and financed, which can help Britain meet its electricity needs in the future. Offshore wind cost reduction is on a scale that you might associate more readily with consumer electronics than with multi-billion pound infrastructure projects.
"Offshore wind is revitalising and securing new investment in ports along our coasts. We need to show what we offer Britain and what we will increasingly offer around the world.
"We need to tell the story of our business success. We need to create a picture of the future we are building."
The UK aims to have up to 18GW of installed offshore wind generation capacity by 2020 and over 40GW by 2030.
Speedy deployment to achieve the targeted increase in offshore wind capacity will require significant reduction in costs.
This would, in turn, need more measures in addition to already planned to help industry reduce investment risk, develop the supply chain, ensure cost-effective grid investment and connection, secure consents, and access finance.
Image: UK aims to have 18GW of installed offshore wind generation capacity by 2020. Photo: courtesy of xedos4/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
