A recent report from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) underscores the urgent need for the United Kingdom to ramp up its efforts in manufacturing and installing offshore wind farms to avoid missing critical economic opportunities.
According to the IPPR, the UK is at risk of failing to meet its 2030 offshore wind targets by a significant margin unless it triples its current installation rate.
“The UK has missed out from becoming a world leader not just in wind power, but also in wind manufacturing,” lamented IPPR associate fellow Simone Gasperin.
The report identifies a key barrier to progress: the country's low levels of manufacturing capacity, particularly during a period of global supply shortages. In various components of the wind supply chain—such as nacelles, blades, towers, foundations, and cables—the UK fails to rank among the top three European nations in terms of manufacturing capacity.
RenewableUK's head of supply chain, Ajai Ahluwalia, emphasized the substantial economic potential of offshore wind manufacturing, highlighting the opportunity to attract hundreds of millions of pounds in investment and create thousands of jobs annually.
The IPPR's recommendations include immediate action to establish additional manufacturing facilities for blades, nacelles, towers, and foundations. According to the report, an investment of £3.2 billion in domestic manufacturing could generate tens of thousands of jobs and revitalize the UK's manufacturing sector, particularly benefiting small and medium-sized businesses.
“The UK is uniquely placed to become a world leader in manufacturing equipment for offshore wind farms,” Gasperin urged. “The government should grasp this opportunity with both hands and do all it can to maximize the manufacturing opportunity of its offshore wind power targets.”
The report also suggests policy measures to address current demand issues, support business expansion across the wind manufacturing supply chain, and upgrade infrastructure to facilitate offshore wind farm installations.
