Offshore Wind Accelerator boost

The offshore wind supply chain got a double boost today (MARCH 2010) as David Kidney, Minister for Energy and Climate Change, announced a major extension of the  programme worth up to £4.8m, and opened the UK’s first training tower for offshore wind.The Offshore Wind Accelerator is a unique research and development collaboration between the Carbon Trust and leading offshore wind developers that focuses on developing innovative technologies that have real potential to cut the cost of future wind farm developments. David Kidney MP, who was in the North East to meet representatives from business and education to discuss skills and green jobs said:“Fighting climate change and ensuring our energy security is a challenge, but it’s also a massive opportunity - an opportunity for skills, jobs and investment. Research and development, and giving people the skills to build offshore wind farms will be vital to keeping the UK ahead of the world.“As we build larger wind farms, in deeper waters, further from shore, we must work with industry to find and develop vital new technologies. The funding I’m announcing today will help companies drive down costs and share resources, which ...