Report

A second wind: maximising the economic opportunity for UK wind manufacturing

This report from UK think tank IPPR argues for a green industrial strategy for the wind sector that should focus on expanding the UK’s wind manufacturing.

In terms of offshore wind capacity, the UK is second in the world only to China. Yet in the next seven years, the UK must install triple the amount of offshore wind compared to the past 14 years. Unresolved issues persist with wind deployment in the UK – such as slow planning and consenting, struggling grid infrastructure, and management and skills shortages. The failure to build up domestic wind manufacturing capacity has also proved to be an economic missed opportunity.

In this report, we argue for a green industrial strategy for the wind sector that should focus on expanding the UK’s specialisation in wind manufacturing, to help put the UK on track to energy independence and on course to meet its ambitious climate targets, while reaping the economic opportunity of the green economy.