NORWEGIAN businesses have been encouraged to partner Humber-based companies to secure work in the UK’s offshore wind market.
A leading renewable energy expert has promoted the region’s potential and highlighted the readiness of its businesses to join Scandinavian firms in forming the industry’s emerging supply chain.
Speaking at a major offshore wind power conference in Norway, Sam Pick of the Humber-based Renewables Network said hundreds of jobs could be created if more companies on both sides of the North Sea forged joint ventures.
Mr Pick, the business development director of the Renewables Network , said: “The scale of the opportunity presented by offshore wind energy means there is a vital need for companies to consider joining forces and become better suppliers to the industry.
“Often, Scandinavian-based companies have proven expertise in marine renewables. And UK companies have a geographical advantage when it comes working on the huge, Round Three, wind farm zones proposed for the North Sea – just 12 hours’ sailing time from the Humber estuary.
“So, it makes sense that stronger links are forged between Scandinavia and the Humber, allowing joint ventures to present bolder pitches to the industry’s biggest players.”
Mr Pick spoke at the Offshore Wind Supply Chain Conference in Oslo, arranged by INTPOW, a non-profit organisation set up by the Norwegian authorities and the country’s renewable industry.
Presenting about the scope and scale of the offshore wind opportunity in the Humber, Mr Pick said the industry could see about £15 billion worth of investment come to the region in the coming years, with the likes of Siemens, E.ON, Centrica and RWE npower renewables already involved with local projects.
And he pointed to existing, successful partnerships between Scandinavian and Humber businesses, such as Danbrit Blue Water – set up in 2011 and combining the UK knowledge of Danbrit Shipping with the international offshore wind logistics expertise of Denmark’s Blue Water Shipping.
Mr Pick said: “There is a huge amount of enthusiasm in Norway, as elsewhere in Scandinavia, to explore opportunities in the Humber – which is good for potential new jobs and investment.
“This can help cut costs, especially as offshore wind comes under pressure to meet the rates set by oil and gas. Businesses in the Humber are used to working in a competitive environment and, as such, have a real advantage in the sector as it looks to reduce costs.”
He added: “Norway has no domestic offshore wind market and so the country’s only route to market is through partnership.
“This demonstrates the huge advantage and opportunity we have in the UK, and particularly in the Humber, when it comes to Round Three offshore wind in the North Sea and we must focus on delivering this on time, and to plan.”
The Renewables Network is a commercially-focused business networking group that helps members enter the renewable energy market by providing industry advice and staging practical events.
The network is one of the partners involved in organising an inward trade mission to the Yorkshire and Humber area in October, which will see Norwegian businesses visit the region and learn more about companies working in the North Sea offshore wind market.
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Offshore WIND staff, March 21, 2012