Despite the fact that it’s freezing and extremely windy, the North Sea should be looking particularly appealing to umbrella company contractors with skills in offshore wind technology.
The government is keen to exploit renewable sources of energy and it has been keen to encourage the development of offshore wind farms. Now, OGN North Sea has announced it will investigate the feasibility of laying the foundations for wind turbine generators in the deep North Sea waters.
The DECC has given the company a grant of £640,250 and if it goes ahead with its plans they could lead to the creation of about 1,000 long-term jobs.
By 2020, ministers hope to see offshore wind contributing 17% of all our electricity production. Greg Barker, the minister for energy and climate change, expressed his delight at the news from OGN and said the coalition was committed to driving green growth in the UK.
He went on to explain that it made sound economic sense to make wind turbines more efficient and if costs come down, more companies will want to construct them and this will increase the amount of green electricity the UK generates. This funding demonstrates the government’s commitment to supporting innovation and offshore power generation, he added.
Earlier this month, Professor Jane Bower suggested that Scotland should also consider shale gas as a renewable source of energy. She told the Scottish parliament that shale gas was a cheaper alternative to wind power and if her suggestion is acted upon, contractors could also find new opportunities appearing in the oil and gas sector.
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Image: bonito iceberg al fondo by Osccarr
