UK 2017 Offshore Wind Numbers on Upward Path

Offshore wind provided 13,500 full-time equivalent jobs in the UK in 2017, a 20.5% increase compared to 11,200 in 2016, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Based on the estimates, there were 9,900 jobs in England in 2017, which represents 2,300 more than the 7,600 estimated in 2016.

Scotland saw 3,400 jobs provided by offshore wind in 2017, which represents 54.5% more than the 2,200 in the previous year.

On the other hand, the number of jobs in Wales decreased from 800 in 2016 to 200 in 2017 and in Northern Ireland from 500 to 100.

In the UK, offshore wind-related turnover in 2017 amounted to approximately GBP 7 billion, GBP 2 billion more than in the previous year.

England also saw a rise in turnover in 2017, which equaled to circa GBP 6,4 billion, compared to some GBP 4 billion in 2016.

As reported by the Office for National Statistics, Scotland’s offshore wind turnover decreased from GBP 540 million in 2016 to GBP 511 million in 2017.

Wales saw a 50% drop in turnover, from GBP 102 million in 2016 to GBP 50 million in 2017. Similarly, Northern Ireland reported a drastic loss, from GBP 61,5 million in 2016 to GBP 11,5 million in 2017.

2017 marks a milestone year for the UK as it had added 2GW of new offshore wind capacity. 372 offshore wind turbines were installed in UK waters between January and December 2017 and 1.8GW was operational by the end of the year.