The United Kingdom Introduces Shoreline Wind Implementation Plan Aimed at Doubling Wind Energy Capacity, Creating 45,000 Job Opportunities
The UK government has launched its first Onshore Wind Strategy, aiming to transform wind energy into a cornerstone of energy security, job creation, and local economic revitalisation. The strategy, which seeks to reverse nearly a decade of stagnation in the onshore wind sector, addresses several challenges, particularly those related to workforce rebuilding and skills development.
Sue Ferns, Senior Deputy General Secretary of Prospect, emphasises the need to address workforce and skills-related challenges. A 9-year policy freeze previously imposed resulted in a significant loss of workforce and skills in the onshore wind sector. This "lost years" period has created urgent challenges in re-establishing a skilled labor pool able to meet the needs of rapidly expanding projects.
The strategy acknowledges these hurdles as pivotal to unlocking the projected 45,000 new skilled jobs and doubling capacity by 2030. To address the growing skills gap, the industry needs to upskill and attract new entrants to the sector to support the forecasted expansion to 27GW of onshore wind capacity.
Stakeholders also emphasise the importance that the new jobs generated in onshore wind should be "good, unionised jobs," highlighting the challenge of ensuring fair labor conditions and long-term career pathways in rebuilding the workforce.
Another dimension of the challenge is aligning workforce expansion with environmental and heritage considerations. The strategy emphasises collaboration with entities like Historic England to protect cultural sites during infrastructure rollout. Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of Historic England, welcomes the recognition of their role in the strategy.
The strategy empowers developers to build faster due to onshore wind being reinstated into the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime. Key measures include unlocking 10GW, repowering aging turbines, and equipping planners with improved tools.
The government is updating its voluntary community benefits guidance for England, offering £5,000 per megawatt per year to communities near wind projects. This funding could support initiatives like libraries, sports facilities, and bill discount schemes. Reaching the upper target of 29GW by 2030 could unlock £70 million annually for rural communities.
The Crown Estate's seabed strategies are being guided by the results of the Marine Spatial Prioritisation Programme, aimed at de-risking offshore wind projects. The strategy outlines more than 40 actions to jumpstart development.
However, concerns remain around rebuilding the workforce after a 9-year policy freeze in the onshore wind sector. Sue Ferns underscores the need for urgent action to overcome the significant skills deficit caused by the hiatus and to ramp up recruitment and training. The strategy's success hinges on its ability to meet these challenges and unlock the potential of onshore wind energy for the UK's energy security and economic growth.
- The UK government's Onshore Wind Strategy acknowledges the urgent challenges in re-establishing a skilled labor pool in the onshore wind sector, which has suffered significant losses due to a 9-year policy freeze.
- Stakeholders have emphasized the importance of ensuring that the new jobs generated in onshore wind are good, unionized jobs, highlighting the challenge of providing fair labor conditions and long-term career pathways.
- To address the growing skills gap, the industry needs to upskill and attract new entrants to the sector to support the forecasted expansion in onshore wind capacity.
- The government's strategy emphasizes collaboration with entities like Historic England to protect cultural sites during infrastructure rollout and empower developers to build faster by reinstating onshore wind into the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime.
