The UK government has ambitions to reach up to 5GW of floating offshore wind (FLOW) deployment by 2030. The Celtic Sea had previously been overlooked for fixed offshore wind due to the seabed depths. However, the development of FLOW has reignited the opportunity for renewable energy projects in the South West.
A report by ORE Catapult estimates that the floating wind industry in the Celtic Sea could support 3,200 jobs in the region (and Wales), generate £682m of spend in the local supply chain by 2030 and provide power for hundreds of thousands of homes.
But the physical scale of FLOW components, as well as the expected number of turbines to be deployed, will place high and wide-ranging demands on port infrastructure in the region.
Coordinated de-risking
In the latest episode of the Beyond Brunel podcast, Christopher Ackland explores whether the region’s ports are ready to meet the challenges of this emerging industry with Captain Richard Allan, Chief Executive and Harbour Master, Port of Plymouth and Matt Hodson, Chief Operations Officer, Celtic Sea Power, based in Cornwall.
Both guests agree that collaboration among industry stakeholders, academia, and government is paramount for the South West to establish itself as a leader in the field. They highlight the need for coordinated policy actions and capital investment as critical components to support the development of the necessary infrastructure.
Matt Hodson tells the podcast that the next six to seven years are critical in getting port infrastructure in a good position but there needs to coordination on de-risking:
“We must strategically plan what we need in terms of upgrades. All the ports will need new infrastructure. We have to get through that consenting process, get the public on side and get that spade in the ground and be ready. But all this is massively speculative because you could do all that and the offshore wind developers might just pull the plug.”
Second to none
However, the podcast guests believe if a collective vision can be established for the region, there is a great deal of optimism given the expertise already available in the South West.
Captain Richard Allan thinks the region’s track record in offshore technologies and skills give the region an advantage:
“Autonomous vessels are now operating in offshore sites around the world with renewables. They were tried and tested in Plymouth, signed off in Plymouth…I really do think we are ahead of the curve on technology, academia, the science, and the training of the staff – in working offshore the South West is second to none.”
All episodes of Beyond Brunel can be accessed on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
The podcast is supported by ICE South West and produced by Fresh Air Studios in Plymouth.