The Government has launched new investment to support clean energy manufacturing, and highly skilled jobs, with offshore wind developers now able to bid for financial support if they drive investment in UK’s most deprived regions, build low carbon factories, or support net-zero supply chains.

The Clean Industry Bonus will provide financial support for offshore wind developers, on the condition they prioritise their investment in areas that need it most, including traditional oil and gas communities. The support also rewards developers who build more sustainable low carbon factories, offshore wind blades, cables and ports to reduce industrial emissions across the clean energy supply chain.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “We are backing our proud manufacturing, coastal and oil and gas communities with good jobs, skills and private sector investment – delivering on the government’s Plan for Change. This is our clean energy superpower mission in action, kickstarting growth, delivering energy security and transforming towns and cities as part of the transition, from the ports of Nigg and Leith to the manufacturing hubs of Blyth and Hull.”

The bonus will come with an initial £27m per GW of offshore wind projects. That means if developers commit to 7-8 GW of offshore wind, up to £200m of funding could be made available.

Funding will be allocated competitively with the results announced by the Energy Secretary in the summer.

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