Shipbuilder APCL Cammell Laird has been tasked with performing an in-depth analysis of the potential market for UK-built ships in the offshore wind sector, commissioned by the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, the National Shipbuilding Office and The Crown Estate.
Lauren Hadnum, clean maritime manager at ORE Catapult, says: “We know that for the UK to tap into the full potential offered by offshore wind, we’re going to need to dramatically increase the number of vessels that are able to maintain the turbines of the future. It’s vital, therefore, that we work to ensure as many of those vessels as possible can be manufactured in British shipyards.”
Global offshore wind capacity is projected to exceed 850GW by 2050, driving demand for increased production of service operation vessels (SOVs) to support this growth. ORE Catapult has forecast that “hundreds” of SOVs, with an associated global market value of “nearly £35 billion”, are likely to be in operation around the world in the run-up to that date.
Will Apps, offshore wind strategy director at The Crown Estate, which manages the UK seabed and leases sites to offshore wind farm developers, comments: “The UK is one of the world’s leading offshore wind energy producers, second only to China. We expect a significant uplift in demand for SOVs in the coming years, with the potential to create jobs and economic growth within communities around the UK.
“One particularly interesting output from the study will be the feasibility assessment of low-emission or no-emission SOVs operating in the UK, acknowledging the importance of decarbonising the offshore wind sector itself and of the operation and maintenance of windfarms.”
