A manufacturing Budget needed to solidify renewables lead

RenewableUK today released ‘Rebirth of UK Manufacturing’, a document highlighting manufacturing opportunities in the renewables sector. The document, coming ahead of the 2010 Budget tomorrow, gives a number of case studies of companies already investing in onshore and offshore wind energy manufacturing in the UK, by expanding their facilities or opening new premises.

In the report and in the association’s Budget Submission to the Treasury published earlier this month, industry has urged the Government to stand full square behind the manufacturing renaissance by: creating manufacturing super hubs around strategically positioned UK ports; expanding world class R&D facilities such as NaREC; investing £200 - £300 million pounds over the next 2-3 years in order to ensure multi-billion pound revenues in the long term; and ensuring that the sector is properly capitalised with the introduction of a ‘Green Bank’.

Dr. Gordon Edge, RenewableUK Director of Economics and Markets, said:

“If Brazil could do it with the biofuels industry, Denmark with onshore wind and Japan with photovoltaic technology, we too can be world leaders in offshore wind, marine energy and small wind systems. These are technologies in which we already hold a lead. With a relatively modest outlay we could be creating multi-billion pound industries employing 50,000 people by 2020.”

The Budget Submission also highlighted the need for the Government to act on radar problems, marine renewables support, the offshore grid and the ‘Green Bank’.

“The industry is asking for essentials in order to grow and realise its full potential. As a result, the country as a whole will be better off. We will be looking at lower bills and securing our energy supplies. This is a clear case of investing wisely in order to secure the nation’s future,” said Edge.