**London**: The UK’s new Planning and Infrastructure Bill seeks to fast-track offshore wind projects via prioritised grid connections and extended commissioning times. However, supply chain limitations and technical skill gaps remain major obstacles to reaching renewable energy targets, according to industry reports.
The UK government’s ambition to accelerate its energy transition is receiving legislative and industry support, as outlined in the new Planning and Infrastructure Bill introduced in March. The Bill aims to expedite the prioritisation of renewable energy projects, particularly wind and solar, for grid connections through a “first ready, first connected” approach. This move is part of a broader initiative to meet the targets set out in the Clean Power Action Plan.
One of the key measures included in the Bill extends the generator commissioning period from 18 to 27 months. The extension is designed to ease the licensing process for offshore wind farms connecting to onshore cables and substations, potentially reducing the need for exemptions and streamlining project timelines. However, while the legislative framework addresses some regulatory challenges, the industry still faces significant obstacles within supply chains that could hinder the scale-up of wind energy production.
According to recent research from Aggreko, a company active in energy solutions, the offshore wind industry is grappling with supply chains that are often underdeveloped, too small, and uncoordinated. This limits their capacity to progress energy projects efficiently through development and construction phases, which require timely and reliable power solutions.
Aggreko’s “Race to Renewables” report, which surveyed over 850 decision-makers involved in European offshore wind projects, revealed several critical barriers to growth. Notably, 39% of respondents identified the lack of temporary power solutions as the primary obstacle. Additionally, over 40% of UK participants indicated a deterioration in grid connectivity over the past year, underscoring the urgent need for improved infrastructure and prioritisation frameworks like those introduced by the government.
Other pressing supply chain concerns include transport and logistics issues affecting 42% of respondents and equipment turnaround times highlighted by 40%. These challenges particularly impact construction activities that depend heavily on continuous power for cable laying and operating heavy lifting equipment.
The uptake of greener technologies intended to lower development-phase emissions is also being constrained. More than half of the UK respondents cited cost as a major hindrance, while 40% pointed to a lack of technical knowledge and experience, signalling a skills gap in deploying new sustainable technologies.
Alan Dunne, Managing Director for the UK and Ireland at Aggreko, emphasised the importance of leveraging third-party expertise to bridge these gaps, noting that “suppliers that are aware of these challenges and are developing new approaches to addressing them are well-placed to assist stakeholders in constructing offshore wind farms.” He referenced Aggreko’s Energising Change framework, which aims to support a commercially viable energy transition by advancing turnkey solutions that integrate power provision, fuel management, and transportation.
As construction, commissioning, and maintenance phases all require reliable power, the selection of experienced supply partners who understand the nuances of offshore wind is fundamental to preventing project delays and achieving sustainability goals. The Race to Renewables report stresses the critical need to strengthen supply chains and technical capabilities to ensure the Planning and Infrastructure Bill’s objectives can be realised.
The New Civil Engineer is reporting that with coordinated industry and governmental efforts focused on both regulatory reform and practical supply chain solutions, the UK’s offshore wind sector is poised for growth, although it must overcome considerable operational challenges to meet its renewable energy targets.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Subscribe to Industry Updates
