Oil and gas producers, led by the firms Technip SA and Subsea 7, have announced their intention to work alongside offshore wind energy developers in the North Sea. The idea behind the move is to enable both sectors to learn from each other and take advantage of the similarities between constructing offshore wind farms and oil and gas installations.

Richard Cook, Head of Renewables Business Development at the oilfield services company Petrofac, explains: ‘To a large extent there is commonality between the engineering and management skills required to successfully deliver offshore oil and gas projects and those required to successfully deliver offshore wind projects.’

The North Sea represents a €14 billion a year market, and the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) estimates that offshore wind projects in these waters will employ at least 446,000 people by 2020. And with the UK controlling around a third of the area’s potential wind farm sites – more than any other country – the new North Sea partnership represents a wealth of opportunities.

Wilding says: ‘What a fantastic opportunity for engineering contractors who work in the energy sector. There are exciting times ahead, and we look forward to working with our clients to provide the skilled and experienced contractors they need to complete their North Sea offshore wind projects.’

Source: Brookson and Offshorewind.biz