Record offshore wind auction is needed to meet targets on power

THE country's upcoming offshore wind auction needs to secure record capacity if clean power targets are to be met within five years, a key voice in the industry has said.

- TOM KEIGHLEY Business writer [e-mail]

Darren Davidson, vice president of Siemens Energy UKI, told the Reuters news agency: "To keep on track with (clean power 2030) targets, we estimate Allocation Round 7 will need to clear a record six GW of offshore wind capacity".

The message comes as the Government has confirmed the tendering window for the Contracts for Difference round will be between August 7 and 27.

Mr Davidson, who is responsible for Siemens' turbine production operation in Hull and its Newcastle Parsons Works, which delivers grid infrastructure work, said such a pipeline would allow the business to invest.

The comments echo evidence Mr Davidson gave to the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee earlier this year, in which he encouraged the Government to stick to its Clean Power 2030 Action Plan.