Published at 11:25, Tuesday, 04 December 2012

NEW members have been appointed to a panel which could shape the future of the offshore wind industry.

Ed Davey, secretary of state for energy, has made the appointments following an industry report.

Earlier this year Vattenfall officially opened the Ormonde offshore windfarm off the coast of Walney, while DONG Energy is running a consultation about building further turbines off the Cumbrian coast.

The Offshore Wind Programme Board has been established following the recommendations in the Offshore Wind Cost Reduction Task Force report.

The board brings together senior representatives from the industry, the government, Crown Estate and statutory nature conservation advisers and is based on successful models used in other sectors such as the Oil and Gas PILOT group.

Mr Davey said: “In the coming decades, offshore wind will play an increasingly important role in our energy mix, delivering secure and clean energy and supporting jobs and growth.

“The UK is the biggest market in the world for offshore wind and we are determined to continue that success and reap the economic benefits.

“I am appointing members to the Offshore Wind Programme Board with the skills and experience to drive down costs, tackle barriers to offshore wind and develop the UK supply chain.”

Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk