New power engineering and construction jobs could be created in the south-west after the government announced its intention to expand offshore wind energy.
According to Regen SW, this is good news for the area because there is no blanket requirement on how far out to sea turbines must be.
This is highly important in the south-west because deep waters mean that offshore turbines need to be constructed closer to shore. It will also ensure that plans for the Atlantic Array, which is due to be built off the north Devon coast, can now progress.
This is in addition to another site proposed for the region's south coast at Poole Bay. It is hoped that offshore wind will provide more than a third (34 per cent) of the south-west's electricity needs by 2020.
In other news, Regen SW has revealed that the area's renewable energy and energy-efficiency sectors are responsible for sustaining 7,200 jobs. The renewable energy sector has enjoyed a period of sustained growth. In 2005, the industry was worth £34 million to the south-west's economy, although it is now valued at £215 million.
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