Opportunities for a “gold rush” in the South West and Wales may be missed claim wind farm supporters

In light of new concerns about the future development of the South West, Cherilyn Mackrory MP for Truro and Falmouth, and leading organisations have expressed their support for funding a stepping stone project in the Celtic Sea in AR4.

Cherilyn Mackrory MP for Truro and Falmouth said: “In Falmouth we are ideally placed to benefit from FLOW as part of plans to turbocharge our blue economy. We are ideally placed geographically and have the support and drive to succeed from so many local organisations.

“In the aftermath of COP26 we must do all we can to capitalise on this green momentum and that is why it is vital this critical project is supported. It has my full backing and is something I will continue to work hard with colleagues locally and in Westminster to make a reality, for the good of Falmouth and our Cornwall.”

Mark Duddridge, Chair of the Cornwall and Scilly Isles Local Enterprise Partnership, said in a new blog: “For Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, the scale of opportunity in the race to net zero cannot be overstated.

“The Celtic Sea is one of only two places in the UK singled out by the Government’s Net Zero Strategy for large-scale FLOW deployment. Some 300MW of projects are already moving forward, with a 30– 40MW demonstrator expected to be on site by 2025. Our target of 3GW of installed capacity could support more than 11,000 jobs and generate £900 million of net additional GVA.”

David McGinley, CEO of Cammell Laird Ship repairers and Shipbuilders Ltd and Atlantic &
Peninsula Marine Services, said: “The benefits of transitioning to renewable energy sources such as Floating Offshore Wind are not just environmental, they also provide tangible social and economic advantages. The acceleration of FLOW in the Celtic Sea will be vital for sustaining our supply chain in the long-term and building a case for wider port development in Falmouth. It is expected that FLOW deployment on Wave Hub will be the first opportunity for the local supply chain to gear up.

“FLOW also has the potential to provide significant social value by strengthening the local job market through the provision of a wider range of technical and engineering opportunities and
apprenticeships. A&P Falmouth is strategically placed to support the development of FLOW as it sits within the geographical range of the future windfarms, with an established Enterprise Zone and a Private Statutory Harbour Authority with plans to provide appropriate facilities, which is why we are keen to work in partnership with other businesses and Government to secure the benefits of FLOW for Cornwall and the wider South West region.”