Armitt: support for offshore wind an important step towards a renewables future

Published: 23 Jul 2018

By: NIC

Tagged:

Aerial view of an offshore wind turbine

A pipeline of auctions supporting offshore wind energy projects will help the UK maintain its leading position in the field, Sir John Armitt said today.

The chairman of the National Infrastructure Commission said today’s decision by the Government mirrored recommendations in the recently-published National Infrastructure Assessment – the first of its kind for this country.

But he urged the Government to push this even further, and extend the forthcoming auctions to other established renewable technologies including onshore wind and solar power.

Energy Minister Claire Perry today announced that offshore wind and remote island wind energy providers will be able to bid for contracts to help power up to four million homes across the country.

Auctions will be held in 2019, and every two years after that, offering support worth up to £557million.

Chairman of the National Infrastructure Commission Sir John Armitt said:

“Our National Infrastructure Assessment highlights the significant contribution that renewable energy technologies like offshore wind can make to powering our homes and businesses, and the need to demonstrate long-term support for its further development.

“I therefore welcome today’s announcement from the Government of a long-term pipeline of support for offshore wind, helping to give investors confidence in the market and to maintain the UK’s leading position in this field.

“But if renewables are to make up at least 50 per cent of our energy mix by 2030, I would urge Ministers to go even further and extend this support to other technologies including onshore wind and solar power.”

Notes to Editors:

The National Infrastructure Assessment was published on 10 July.  For details of its recommendations on developing a low cost, low carbon energy system visit the chapter here

Share this article

<

Recent Articles

Coming up in 2024
Thumbtack pins in calendar concept for busy, appointment and meeting reminder

Coming up in 2024

This page shows a calendar reflecting the latest expected dates for Commission reports, publications and events. You can also sign up to receive our quarterly newsletter by entering your email address in the box at the foot of each website page.

1 Feb 2024 By
Winser: NAO call for robust plan to boost low carbon heating “absolutely right”
picture of a heat pump by a wall

Winser: NAO call for robust plan to boost low carbon heating “absolutely right”

A National Audit Office report out today (18 March 2024) says heat pump installations are falling well below the level needed to meet the government’s targets of 600,000 units installed each year by 2028. The NAO says in response that a more robust plan from government and greater clarity on the future role if any...

18 Mar 2024 By
Government response on surface water flooding risk “does not meet scale of challenge”
A car splashes through a flooded Farringdon Lane in central London after a day of heavy rain.

Government response on surface water flooding risk “does not meet scale of challenge”

The government has today (13 March 2024) responded to the Commission’s study on reducing the risks of surface water flooding, published in November 2022. While it accepts the principles behind a number of the Commission’s recommendations, the government’s response – in the Commission’s view – makes few new commitments on steps to manage surface water...

13 Mar 2024 By
James Heath: urgent planning reform needed to remove “binding constraint” on UK’s economic future
A modern bridge over a dual carriageway cutting through British farmland

James Heath: urgent planning reform needed to remove “binding constraint” on UK’s economic future

James Heath, chief executive of the National Infrastructure Commission, spoke at the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects Forum in London yesterday (6 March). James offered the Commission’s view on the vital importance of speeding up the planning regime for major projects, given the need for pace in delivering tens of billions of pounds’ worth of schemes...

7 Mar 2024 By

Evidence_Icon_Turquoise Created with Sketch.

Explore data used in the Commission's research, and gain insights from across UK infrastructure

Join our team of professionals supporting the Commission to provide evidence based and forward thinking advice on infrastructure strategy.