North East offshore wind sector prepares for Sector Deal delivery

Energi Coast has declared the region’s supply chain ‘fit and ready’ to support the growth of the industry following the announcement of the Sector Deal for the offshore wind industry.

The North East has aided the development of the offshore wind industry since its inception and developed a diverse cluster of technology-led suppliers.

Since creating the first offshore wind farm off the coast of Blyth in 2000, the North East supply chain has evolved through the development of innovative and efficient products and services, which have been applied to multiple UK and international wind farms.

James Ritchie, chairman of Energi Coast and CEO of Tekmar Group plc, said: “The Sector Deal for the offshore wind industry is a significant step forward in creating a sustainable industry and providing real value creation to our local supply chain.

“Offshore wind is a central part of the world’s clean energy future due to its renewed competitiveness and scalability.

“Delivering it requires an innovative supply chain to produce effective and efficient technology and services that supports the construction, operation and maintenance of offshore wind farms, which is something the North East has done successfully.

“The Sector Deal will support the development of supply chain clusters, such as the maturing Energi Coast group of companies in the North East of England, which builds on a heritage from maritime and subsea oil and gas and have been at the forefront of this exciting renewable sector since its inception.”

Founded in 2011 by energy sector business development experts NOF, Energi Coast offers collaborative offshore renewables supply chain companies.

George Rafferty, chief executive of NOF, concluded: “The sector deal has the potential to attract considerable inward investment to the UK and in turn generate thousands of jobs in the supply chain.

“Innovative British companies, particularly those in the North East England cluster, have been integral to the helping the UK establish a world-renowned offshore wind industry and the sector deal will support further development in the supply chain.”