Europe's first offshore wind grid

Europe's first offshore wind grid

In order to utilise wind power and cut down on carbon emissions, nine countries including the UK have signed up to develop an integrated offshore grid in the North and Irish Seas.

The agreement - entitled the "The North Seas Countries' Offshore Grid Initiative" - was signed by UK energy and climate change minister Lord Hunt along with ministers from Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark, Sweden and Ireland. The declaration highlights the role offshore wind energy can play in meeting the EU's 2020 targets and the benefits an integrated offshore grid can bring in terms of security of supply and market integration.

Lord Hunt was quoted as saying, "Talks begin in Copenhagen on how we can cut carbon emissions worldwide. A large part of that will be continuing the domestic decarbonisation of our energy supplies by moving to low carbon sources including wind. We're already the world leader in offshore wind here in the UK and today's announcements bring new funding and expert direction to grow this vital new industry.

"They also mean we can work with other countries in the EU to increase our renewable energy supplies."

New grants & new technology

Governments all round the continent have been investing in wind technology, with the UK government announcing GBP£5 million in new grants for offshore wind research.

Lord Hunt announced that the next round of low carbon energy demonstration capital grants. Among recipients is energy company Vestas, which will receive GBP£1.75 million from the government and a further GBP£1.75 million from the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), in addition to the GBP£6 million already awarded. Vestas announced today that they will be going ahead with their research and development facility on the Isle of Wight.

Rob Sauven, Managing Director, Vestas Technology R&D said: "With this investment Vestas has chosen the UK as its location to build a strategically vital part of its global technology capability. We will be able to build and test the largest blades in the world including those related to our recent offshore product announcements."

Pam Alexander, chief executive of SEEDA, added: "This award is good news for the UK's position in the offshore wind market and also for the Isle of Wight's workforce and economy.

"Vestas is a key employer offering high value jobs and we are keen to retain them at the heart of the Isle of Wight's centre of excellence in advance composite materials. The R&D centre will shortly be leading the development of new offshore wind technologies for the rest of the world."

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