New supply chain study for offshore wind power

Recent results of three regional POWER supply chain studies (see Machinery, September, page 16) have shown the need for co-ordinating the efforts of both public and private sector organisations, and of national policies and agencies. The North Sea wide study will address this need, assessing how regions could further co-operate in offshore wind energy to move further towards a North Sea wide offshore wind supply chain. “The regional POWER studies demonstrated the considerable potential for development of a major industry in the southern North Sea. This is great importance for a number of reasons,” said John Westwood, managing director of Douglas-Westwood. “The region’s offshore oil & gas industry is seeing slow decline. However, the considerable experience and skills that has been accumulated over the years can be directly applied to developing the new and exciting offshore wind power sector. “We estimate that over the next five years, investments in offshore wind power will generate €6.8 billion of new business for companies around the North Sea, delivering many new jobs.”