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The UK will Invest 160 Million Pounds to Boost the Offshore Wind Power Industry
To help the economy achieve a "green rebuild", British Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently proposed a new plan to boost the UK's offshore wind power industry, promising that within ten years, offshore wind farms will be enough to power every British household.The above commitment is part of the first phase of the British government's "Green Industrial Revolution" plan. A statement released by the British government on October 6 said that it would provide 160 million pounds to upgrade ports and infrastructure (including wind turbine manufacturing plants, etc.) to significantly increase the UK's offshore wind power installed capacity. The UK's current offshore wind power installed capacity ranks first in the world and can meet 10% of the country's electricity demand.
Boris said that the UK's offshore wind energy resources are comparable to Saudi Arabia's oil resources, and the UK "will become a world leader in low-cost clean power generation - cheaper than coal and natural gas."
According to the Bank of England's forecast, the UK's gross domestic product (GDP) will fall by 9.5% this year, which will be the worst economic recession in the UK in nearly 100 years. In recent months, the British government has repeatedly been criticized for failing to formulate a green recovery plan to ensure the goal of "net zero emissions" of greenhouse gases by 2050.
The British government said that this new investment plan will quickly create about 2,000 construction jobs. By 2030, offshore wind power will create 60,000 jobs directly and indirectly in ports, factories and supply chains, "manufacturing the next generation of offshore wind turbines and providing clean energy to the UK." With this, British companies, including smaller suppliers, will be able to win orders and further investment from global energy companies, which will help enhance the competitiveness of British companies on the global stage. "The UK will be at the forefront of the green industrial revolution."
According to current electricity consumption, the UK will increase its offshore wind power installed capacity target for 2030 from the previous 30GW (1GW=1000MW) to 40GW, making offshore wind power generation sufficient to power every British household; the plan also sets new targets for floating offshore wind farms. "With the advantages of the North Sea, this new technology allows wind farms to be built in deeper and farther waters with the strongest winds." In terms of price mechanism, the British government proposed to set a target to support a doubling of renewable energy capacity in the next "difference contract" auction to be held in the second half of 2021.
