By Renewable Energy Focus staff

In response to the CCC’s call for reducing offshore wind targets and rather focus on less costly low-carbon alternatives, RenewableUK’s CEO Mari McCaffery warns that offshore wind targets need to be increased rather than decreased.

“The report is welcome in as much as it recommends increasing the share of renewable energy to 40% by 2030. However, we are not going to get there if we do not stand four-square behind offshore wind in the run up to 2020. An unambitious target would scare off investors just when they have pledged so much commitment in establishing UK factories. This in turn could stymie delivery of targets and prevent the creation of up to 50,000 jobs in offshore wind over the next decade.

“The current 2020 target for offshore wind is already below what the industry can deliver. Back-tracking on the target even further makes no sense: The UK’s world leading offshore sector needs confidence, not doubt and prevarication. We are looking forward to the Government’s response to this report in the delivery roadmap next month, which we anticipate to be much more ambitious.”