OFFSHORE windfarms could be the next big thing to hit Northumberland following a speech by Energy Secretary John Hutton.
His speech, outlining proposals to open up the seas around the UK to offshore windfarms could have massive implications on the Northumberland coast. This area has already been identified as having particularly high energy generating potential due t
o high wind speeds, although the depth of the seabed in some areas could be problematic for the erection of turbines.
Speaking to the European energy industry in Berlin, Mr Hutton launched a Strategic Environmental Assessment, paving the way for more wind energy development.
"The draft plan I'm setting out today could allow companies to develop up to 25 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2020, in addition to the eight gigawatts already planned," Mr Hutton said.
"This potential major expansion will be subject to the outcome of a Strategic Environmental Assessment. But if we could manage to achieve this, by 2020 enough electricity could be generated off our shores to power the equivalent of all of the UK's homes. This could be a major contribution towards meeting the EU's target of 20% of energy from renewable sources by 2020.
"Our trajectory on renewables is beyond question. They are as central to our future low carbon economy as chimneys were to the industrial revolution and road building following the invention of the mass produced car."
Alan Beith MP has welcomed the announcement. He said: "This announcement on offshore wind development is promising and is a potentially very important part of our sourcing of renewable energy.
"I do feel, however, that the Government is putting all its emphasis on wind power, when we also need to be looking closely at the potential of using tidal and wave power to generate electricity."
The 'first round' of offshore wind farms, in 2001, comprised a number of small pilot projects, including one at Blyth. The 'second round', in 2003, resulted in the award of options for leases for larger scale projects in three designated areas —the Thames Estuary, the Greater Wash and the north west. Based on current plans under the first and second leasing rounds, about 8GW of capacity could be operational by around 2014.
Mr Hutton's announcement could pave the way for a possible 'third round' and further rounds, of offshore wind development. A further 25GW of offshore wind energy generation on top of the planned 8GW could be the result as the Government look to achieve the targets set for 2020.
Earlier this month is was revealed that Clipper Windpower, a Californian renewable energy company, in collaboration with One NorthEast, will build a 7.5MW turbine at Blyth, almost twice as powerful as those already there, and the largest offshore turbine in the world.
Chris Pywell, One NorthEast head of strategic economic change, said: "The north east is ideally placed to benefit from this (Mr Hutton's) announcement because of the offshore fabrication skills we have here and our new and renewable energy research and development base.
"In recent weeks, Californian wind energy giant Clipper Windpower announced it will pioneer research and development of a new generation of offshore wind turbines at Blyth's New and Renewable Energy Centre and Belgian firm Fabricom Oil and Gas will create 250 new, highly-skilled engineering jobs in North Tyneside to service the North Sea oil and gas market.
"Both Clipper and Fabricom stated that the north east's skilled labour pool in marine offshore fabrication was a prime reason for investing in our region, while Clipper was also impressed with the region's innovative approach to R and D in new and renewable energy.
"While the depth of north east coastal waters may mean it is not an ideal location to site offshore wind turbines, we believe the region can benefit from the Government's announcement through the creation of new business and associated job opportunities."
David Hodkinson, managing director of AMEC Wind Energy, joint developer of the turbines currently at Blyth, told the Advertiser: "As a major offshore and land-based wind farm developer, AMEC welcomes the government's bold expansion plans for offshore wind around the UK which complement the Prime Minister's recent backing for further development of land-based wind farms. There are many issues to be overcome for both sectors to deliver their full potential and government needs to make sure that robust action is taken to address the planning and grid connection issues that currently impede development."
