Funding of up to £160 million has been unveiled by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to develop floating offshore wind projects.
Developers and manufacturers seeking to invest in floating wind will be able to bid for a share of the money which will support the government’s aim to deliver 1GW of energy via floating offshore wind by 2030.
The new funds are expected to be used to develop port infrastructure that is capable of mass-producing floating turbines and installing them out at sea.
Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “It will create and support thousands of good quality jobs ensuring they remain at the forefront of the next generation of clean energy as we build back greener.
“Floating offshore wind is key to unlocking the spectacular wind energy resource we enjoy in the UK, particularly in the deep waters around the coasts of Scotland and Wales.
“This new investment will put us in a leading position to capture the full economic benefit of this fast-growing industry.”
Prime minister Boris Johnson said: “Offshore wind is a UK success story in forging our green industrial revolution.
“Tapping into this emerging sector will boost our clean electricity generation even further, creating jobs and green innovation across the whole of the UK.”