Renewables industry can take the lead in Government’s modern Industrial Strategy

RenewableUK welcomes the Government’s commitment to “support industries of the future” in its modern Industrial Strategy. This includes delivering affordable energy and clean growth, investing in science, research and innovation, upgrading infrastructure and boosting trade and inward investment.

The Prime Minister Theresa May launched the proposals “to drive growth across the whole country and create more high skilled, high paid jobs” in a green paper published today.  

RenewableUK’s Executive Director Emma Pinchbeck said: “The Prime Minster has taken a bold step by focussing specifically on innovative new industries where the UK is leading the world, and which are challenging the old order. That’s exactly what our wind, wave and tidal energy industries are doing by delivering affordable energy and clean growth – key pillars which Theresa May has set out in her bold vision for modern Britain.  

It’s exciting to see a focus on innovative solutions such as electric vehicles, which will need clean sources of energy to power them. Moves to increase the use of energy storage and battery technology – one of the most exciting fields which our member companies are pioneering – with the creation of a new research institute will also ensure renewables remain at the forefront of our power generation.

Our offshore wind and marine energy industries are the envy of the rest of the world, with economic benefits being reaped around the UK from the shipyards of Liverpool to the banks of the Humber to the waters of Orkney. The global renewable energy market is worth $290bn a year, so it’s crucial that the final Industrial Strategy provides a strong Sector Deal for our wind and marine technologies.

Energy costs are crucial for all industries, so as this reboot for Britain takes shape, with renewable energy now a mainstream power source, we need to maximise the benefits we all get from the investments that have been made in modernising the way we generate electricity. This means that onshore wind has a key role to play in our future energy mix, as it’s the cheapest form of new power for Britain”.