A new report titled “UK Offshore Renewable Energy in 2040: Building a Sustainable and Competitive ORE Sector on a Pathway to Net Zero by 2050” has been published by the Supergen Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Hub.
Acceleration is needed
The ORE outlook 2040 report emphasises the urgent need for a new approach to ensure the ORE sector can fulfil its critical role in our energy system. To meet the 2050 Net Zero targets, the UK must significantly accelerate ORE development. Current project timelines are too slow and immediate solutions are needed to upscale and optimise ORE systems and technologies. The report calls for a step-change in policy and action, underpinned by evidence-based research which signposts the most innovative and direct path to a sustainable and competitive ORE sector.
The Supergen ORE Hub is a £16.5 million Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) programme, 2018–2027, which brings together academia, industry, policymakers and the general public to support and accelerate the development of offshore wind, wave and tidal technology for the benefit of society.
Professor Deborah Greaves OBE – Director of the Supergen ORE Hub and Professor of Ocean Engineering, University of Plymouth, said: “The UK has abundant offshore wind, wave and tidal energy resources and leads globally in ORE technology, but faster, more focused action is required to ensure we meet Net Zero 2050 targets. Research and innovation is critical—accelerating the optimisation of existing technologies, reducing design uncertainty, and discovering new ways to plan and construct these devices.”
With the UK having abundant offshore wind, wave, and tidal energy resources and one of the highest levels of deployed ORE capacity in the world, the report states accelerated and targeted action is needed to maintain this position and meet the growing energy demands of the future clean energy system. The report focuses on key areas requiring change; the consenting process, workforce, supply chain and infrastructure.
The report is broken down into two sections; section 1 – climate, net zero and 2040, and section 2 – implications.
Section 1: Climate change, Net Zero, and 2040
The first section of the report sets the scene by summarising current climate change impacts and our progress so far in the energy transition. It shows the ORE deployment pathways needed to reach Net Zero by 2050, using 2040 as a key milestone. The economic and social benefits of a just, sustainable and secure energy transition are set out.
Section 2: Implications
The second section highlights the implications of the ORE deployment levels required by 2040, which are explored through four lenses: (i) planning and consenting, (ii) people, (iii) supply chain and (iv) infrastructure and grid. The analysis shows that the required ORE growth cannot be reached by upscaling current business-as-usual methods alone. Instead, research and innovation are required to transform the technology and practices of the ORE sector, as well as the role of the ORE sector in communities and our understanding of the impact of ORE in the ocean.
Investment in research and innovation will be the driving force behind the ORE sector’s growth – de-risking new technologies, reducing costs, and improving performance. Moreover, an emphasis on research and innovation is vital for underpinning economic development and enhancing the competitiveness of the UK supply chain, ensuring the country retains its technological leadership on the global stage.