We’ve heard a lot recently about new opportunities for umbrella company contractors in the renewable energy sector. However, there was a bit if bad news last week as a Korean company decided to suspend its plans to invest in the UK’s wind industry.
Doosan had intended to create as many as 1,700 jobs by building a research centre of excellence in the Scottish city of Glasgow as well as turbine manufacturing factories. The company made its decision amid falling confidence in the offshore wind industry.
Petrofac, a FTSE 100-listed company, also warned that only three in ten of the anticipated North Sea wind projects will get built as companies struggle to get the finance they need to proceed.
Apparently Doosan informed the Scottish parliament of its decision to withdraw from the Scottish wind industry back in December but the news was not made public.
The Tory government is keen to push ahead with wind projects and it will no doubt be distressed to learn of this lack of confidence in the industry. However, there is opposition to wind power and Lord Carlile, a Lib Dem peer, recently launched a national body to oppose both offshore and onshore wind turbines.
Despite this, the government still hopes that as many as 90,000 people will be working in the tidal, wave, and wind industries by 2020. Vestas, Siemens and Gamesa are all pressing ahead with renewable projects since the start of the year and most recently Offshore Group Newcastle announced the creation of up to 1,000 positions constructing foundations for deep-water offshore wind farms.
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Image: Wind Farm at Sunset by Global Marine Photos
