18 March 2010: Harnessing the UK’s abundant wind, tidal and wave resources could hold the key to tackling the UK’s energy crisis, as well as make a massive contribution to the economy with the creation of over 40,000 jobs, experts said today in a report published by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).

The UK energy sector is facing a security of supply crisis. Over one third of our power plants are due to close by 2025, which equates to a loss of 30GW of electricity. At the same time, we urgently need to decarbonise our energy supply to meet pressing environmental targets.

ICE’s report Offshore Renewables: Unlocking the Potential says the rapid up-scaling of offshore renewable resources, on a similar scale to that experienced by the North Sea oil and gas sector in the 60’s and 70’s, could provide the solution. The UK possesses some of the richest wave, tidal and wind resources in the world, with the potential to provide up to half of the UK’s current energy demands as well as create a major new industrial sector, with significant export potential.

In January this year the third round of tenders for offshore wind sites was announced, representing over £100 billion of private investment and 32 GW of projects. If achieved, these projects, combined with advances in wave and tidal energy generation, could contribute significantly to plugging the energy gap faced by the UK.

However, ICE warns that to deliver on such a massive scale industry requires a secure commercial environment within which companies can invest with confidence.

ICE vice president Richard Coackley said:

“The UK energy sector needs to undergo a radical transformation to have any hope of meeting future demand in an environmentally sustainable way, and exploiting our offshore energy resources will be key.

“Wind, wave and tidal energy can provide a clean source of energy as well as boosting the economy, creating jobs and putting the UK at the forefront of a potentially booming industry.

“It is unclear currently exactly how we are going to deliver on this opportunity within such a narrow timeframe. Although Government has already begun putting the framework in place we urgently need to ramp up progress and set a clear agenda for the full-scale expansion of the sector.

“We hope to see clear evidence of this vision in next week’s Budget.” 

ICE recommends action in three areas:

• 1. Continued Government leadership – providing a supportive financial framework and efficient planning system
• 2. Regulatory reform – a reassessment of OFGEMs remit, taking into account uncertainty around carbon pricing and long-term security of supply; and
• 3. Identification of key opportunities for the UK supply chain – support and development of the required skills areas and supporting sectors will be essential

Offshore Renewables: Unlocking the Potential publishes papers from four leading experts on the challenges that face us going forward.

Professor AbuBakr Bahaj looks beyond wind, surveying the progress in the infant tidal and wave energy sectors. He notes that UK waters contain a potential for 0.25 TW of resource, which if one tenth was exploited, would equate to around half of the nation’s current electricity consumption. 

Peter Madigan, Renewables UK gives an overview of the opportunities for offshore wind development following the Crown Estates January 2010 allocation of licences for the third round of offshore wind development in UK waters.

Captain Matthew Mazhuvancherry,Clarkson Technical Services, also recognises the potential for UK PLC in the offshore sector but sounds several notes of caution.

Will a lack of strong government vision see many of the economic benefits from exploiting UK resources accruing to competitor countries in Europe and beyond?

National Grid outlines its commitment to supporting the achievement of the UK’s

2020 renewable energy targets.

Coackley concluded:

“Whichever way you look at it offshore wind, wave and tidal energy will play a vital role in meeting demand for sustainable energy in the future.

“It’s time for the UK to move out of the rhetoric and into reality. It would be a terrible shame if in 20 years we are forced to admit ‘we missed a trick’.”

www.ice.org.uk/downloads/offshore.pdf

For more information:

Emily Beadon,
ICE Media Relations,
t: 020 7665 2261,
e: emily.beadon@ice.org.uk

Notes to editors:

• The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) was founded in 1818 to ensure professionalism in civil engineering. It represents 80,000 qualified and student civil engineers in the UK and across the globe. The ICE has long worked with the government of the day to help it to achieve its objectives, and has worked with industry to ensure that construction and civil engineering remain major contributors to the UK economy and UK exports.