Report calls for swift offshore decisions

Report calls for quick decisionson offshore in UK

The document, Building an Industry, was produced by energy research company Douglas Westwood for industry association RenewableUK.
The report s "healthy industry scenario" says a substantial UK manufacturing base could create at least 45,000 jobs.
But what the industry requires from the new UK government is speedy action to demonstrate its commitment to the sector, it says.
In particular, it is asking for a higher goal for offshore wind beyond the 13GW expected in the UK renewable energy action plan for meeting its 2020 targets.
The report also calls for an early decision on the future support mechanisms for the sector.
The new coalition government is looking at moving to a fixed price system of "feed-in" tariffs (FITs).
The industry, however, prefers the existing renewables obligation (RO) and would like to see the current two renewables obligation certificates (ROCs) level of support for offshore wind extended beyond the current cut-off of 2014.
But these decisions need to be made by 2011 so that investment decisions can be made by turbine manufacturers and other supply chain investors in time to meet the increases in installed capacity from 2015, the report concluded.