Britain will miss its target for power from offshore wind generation by eighteen years due to the slow pace of installation. according to a new report.
Union-backed think tank the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) said that a new state-owned installation vessel fleet is needed to ramp up offshore wind production capacity and help ease a “ chronic lack of manufacturing capacity for the sector".
In the next seven years, the UK must triple the amount of spending on offshore wind compared said the IPPR, adding Britain doesn't have any manufacturing facility in wind turbine nacelles or any major player specialising in wind towers.
IPPR argues that in less than five years the UK has to build at least one additional blade factory, two new nacelle and tower factories and two foundation factories.
“An investment of £3.2bn in UK manufacturing facilities could generate tens of thousands of direct and indirect jobs, particularly in small and medium businesses,” it said.
Failing to capitalise on this opportunity would put “net zero at risk, undermine the UK’s energy independence, and miss an open goal for economic growth”, it added.