Sir, – Fintan O'Toole is right to point to the energy potential from Irish offshore wind farms ("Europe doesn't need our soldiers – it needs our energy", Opinion & Analysis, May 19th).
The 80 GW output would, as he rightly says, place Ireland at the forefront of a new industrial revolution.
It would require 6,400 giant offshore 12.5 to 14MW wind turbines on 250 metre towers with blades over 100 metres long. Some 16 million tonnes of steel would be required. These cost up to £35 million (€42 million) each when the cabling and transmission costs are included.
By contrast the Climate Change Committee’s UK target is for 100 GW new offshore wind capacity. This requires 8,000 giant offshore wind turbines using 20 million tonnes of steel.
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There is no UK supply chain for the steel fabrication for the towers and foundations for a programme of this scale.
GMB union members in the wind fabrication yards in Scotland estimates that 30,000 new steel fabrication jobs are required in the UK to this work.
As things stand, these jobs are being outsourced to low-paid workers in yards in Asia.
GMB is seeking a UK renewables development authority with a remit and budget to work with private sector employers and training providers to bring on stream new yards and train a new steel fabrication workforce in what will be highly skilled well-paid jobs in areas that badly need this new work. The payment of subsidies would be linked to using this supply chain. It should also ensure that the transmission infrastructure is developed.
The lack of a UK renewables energy supply chain also applies to Ireland. It too would require not far short of 30,000 new steel fabrication jobs.
A transformation on this scale cannot be achieved by business as usual. GMB consider that the UK and Irish governments and the devolved administrations should work together on this. Britain and Ireland’s combined 180 GW would be the largest offshore clusters in the world. The scope for economies of scale and developing new supply chains for all the kit are simply enormous.
As well as providing clean energy, the aim should be to maximise the number of jobs in local supply chains. These can replace the current jobs in the carbon economy that will be phased out in the Shannon estuary, for example.
Fintan O’Toole is right to point out the enormous potential. A total of 60,000 new steel fabrication jobs, in often neglected coastal areas across Britain and Ireland, is one such prize. – Yours, etc,
WARREN KENNY,
Regional Secretary,
GMB ,
London.