Business Support Consultancy for Technology, Innovation & Green Growth for Offshore Renewables (TIGG...

As part of the offshore wind sector deal announced in 2019 the UK Government set ambitious targets to grow the current 12GW installed offshore wind capacity to 50GW by 2030, which will be critical to achieving UK Government Net-Zero 2050 carbon reduction targets. Such a dramatic increase in deployed offshore wind generation will require a step change in the provision of support to ensure that the UK can maximise the supply chain opportunities in offshore wind farm development including areas such as: composite materials, novel turbine subcomponents, new foundation designs or next generation electrical subsystems/cables. In addition, further development of UKs leading position on subsea technologies, including robotic technology and seabed intervention equipment will be critical for wind farm survey, development, installation and O&M. The estimated potential investment value into the UK economy is over £40 billion by 2030.
The North of Tyne region and wider LA7 region have a critical mass of world leading offshore engineering/manufacturing, subsea technology and digital/technical consultancy services companies. The North East LEP commissioned a North East offshore wind supply chain study by Cambridge Econometrics which identified 130 companies currently active in the sector and outlined with further strategic support, the number of jobs existing in the sector could reach 3,500 jobs and generate up to £140m in GVA by 2030.
The North of Tyne also hosts a significant number of regional employers which are part of the Energi Coast cluster exporting products and services internationally for wind farm project developments in the USA, China, Taiwan and Europe. The North of Tyne region will also play a key supporting role in the development of the world’s largest offshore wind farm the Dogger Bank to be located some 90km+ from the coastline. This planned 4.8GW windfarm being jointly developed by Equinor and SSE represents a significant opportunity for the North of Tyne supply chain.