Marine South East calls on Government to create National database for Offshore Wind Farm Supply Chain
As a result of the recent Offshore Wind Farm supply chain events organised by Marine South East we have been instrumental in urging the government to develop a database of all the potential suppliers that would make it easier to identify suppliers.
BIS officials have now revealed plans to compile a database of every British company that could help build the Round 3 wind farms. The aim to help ensure UK-based firms
provide more than half the equipment to the next generation of offshore wind farms.
An official in the Green Economy Team at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), told
delegates at a recent event that it was considering pulling together the catalogue as part of its ongoing efforts to support the emerging sector.
The offshore wind industry has faced criticism from some quarters due to its reliance on imported turbines, parts
and workers to build the first generation of wind farms.
But industry insiders hope to drive down costs by maximising UK content, while also creating jobs. Using UK
content could also ease the delivery process for many of the larger components, such as blades for the new
generation of 5-7MW wind turbines that could be as long as 80 metres.
Richard Barron, project manager at Marine South East (MSE),
is in the process of compiling a database for companies that could supply EON's 700MW Rampion Offshore wind farm, which is planned for construction off the coast of Hastings.
The initial research had already identified more than 600 companies in Sussex that could supply Rampion, ranging from foundries to portakabin suppliers. MSE is currently investigating gaps in the supply chain and looking for ways of identifying companies to fill them.
"We've identified something like 762 sub categories in the supply chain, largely across 18 tier-one contractors
and were able to identify in Sussex 600 companies in a position to supply services and products," he said. "What
is glaringly obvious is there's a need for a national database."
Heidi Bridger, assistant director in BIS's Green Economy Team, said it was hoping to establish a database by
pulling together information from regional projects such as the one being run by E.ON and Marine South East.
"We're not working on it at the moment, but there are plans afoot that somebody should be and it's one of the things we are looking at as part of the support programme," she said.
For more information on the Marine South East E.ON project please contact Richard Barron on 02380 111596 or email richard@marinesoutheast.co.uk
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