The government has said it may create a database of every firm in the UK that could help build the next generation of offshore wind farms in British waters. As we reported in March, offshore wind farm operators have been criticised in the past for awarding many key contracts outside the UK. But that could all change if plans go ahead for the new database, and more than half the equipment required for Round 3 wind farms could be made here.

Manufacturing these parts in the UK will create hundreds of badly-needed jobs as well as driving down costs. It will also speeding up the construction process, as equipment won’t need to be shipped from abroad – a huge logistical problem for items such as the 80m long blades for the new generation of 5 to 7MW wind turbines.

Business and industry experts have welcomed the idea of the potential database and it certainly looks like British businesses have what it takes to fill it. For example, regional business group Marine South East has been looking at potential UK suppliers for E.ON’s Rampion offshore wind farm off the Sussex coast. Already, they’ve identified 600 companies in Sussex alone that could provide relevant products and services to this project.

Wilding says: ‘This news is encouraging, as it shows the government is looking at different ways to support the offshore wind programme. Let’s hope this database goes ahead and is properly maintained so we can keep as many contracts as possible on British soil.’

Source: Business Green