Offshore Wind Site Development Competition
Current policy under review site will be updated as soon as we have a clearer view of the new Government’s policy
Offshore wind is at the heart of the UK economy’s shift to low carbon. Britain is, and will remain for the foreseeable future, the largest single market for offshore wind in the world. The Government is determined to ensure that the UK takes advantage of this opportunity by attracting wind turbine manufacturers to base their operations here.
The Government has listened carefully to the concerns of industry about the lack of suitable locations with high quality infrastructure that can support manufacturing and assembly. In order to speed up the deployment of wind energy throughout Europe, the Government intends to provide funding to support site development for offshore wind turbine manufacture and assembly in the UK.
Subject to European state aid considerations, the Government will be launching an open competition allowing site developers to bid for funding of up to £60m for infrastructure for the offshore wind industry. We will be expecting all bids to include contributions from local partners.
Who will be eligible?
The competition will consider bids from site developers who have a viable plan for developing their site into a centre for offshore wind manufacturing and assembly. We intend to make funding available for the development of these sites - details of the costs that will be eligible under the competition will be made available at a later date.
We expect that sites will need to demonstrate that they have the capability to provide:
sufficient land capable of being developed into a manufacturing site for offshore wind turbines;
access to facilities for the transport of large and heavy products; and
heavy duty surfacing capable of bearing heavy loads.
Bids will need to be supported by intent from a manufacturer(s) to locate on that site if the site is successful in the competition. The manufacturer(s) must intend to use the developed land to enable them to establish a manufacturing facility that will supply products to the offshore wind market. Manufacturers will be able to associate themselves with more than one site. In addition to this, we intend that the competition will encourage partnering between landowners, site developers, and other private and public sector organisations.
The Government will seek to make optimum use of the funding available and may choose to award funding to a single site; or to split funds between a range of sites, depending on the nature of the bids received.
How will the bids be assessed?
The funding is to support the new wind turbine manufacturing and assembly capacity, which will help both the UK and the EU to achieve their renewable energy targets.
Criteria for the competition will be published at a later date. The criteria are likely to include:
additional economic value (including jobs) to the UK;
deliverability of the project; and
financial, commercial and strategic considerations.
The Government will seek the independent advice of the Industrial Development Advisory Board as part of the decision making process.
The criteria for the competition and the availability of funding is dependent on further consideration of European state aid implications. No grant will be paid in advance of state aid approval by the European Commission.
When will I be able to find out more information?
The Government will release detailed criteria and guidance at a later date, after which the competition will open and will run for 12 weeks. If you would like to be on the mailing list for future information, please email windinfrastructure@bis.gsi.gov.uk stating your name and contact information.
