Mersey Maritime is joining forces with innogy Renewables UK to promote the Offshore Energy Alliance, a newly-created supply chain cluster. Tony McDonough reports

Industry body Mersey Maritime is joining a new partnership to promote the growth of the huge offshore energy sector and its supply chain.

Liverpool city region has become a leader in offshore energy following the construction of the Burbo Bank and Burbo Bank Extension wind farms in Liverpool Bay, which provide electricity for more than 300,000 homes.

The Government plans to significantly increase the UK’s offshore wind capacity over the next two decades as part of the Offshore Wind Sector Deal and Maritime 2050: Navigating the Future strategies.

Now, in a major cross-sector, cross-regional collaborative effort, Mersey Maritime and innogy Renewables UK are joining forces to promote the Offshore Energy Alliance (OEA), the North West and North Wales newly-created supply chain cluster. It will provide support for offshore and energy related businesses and activities.

The cluster and its planned activities aim to further increase benefits to coastal communities by providing support for local businesses, raising awareness of upcoming opportunities in the sector, facilitating forums and networking events in offshore, low carbon and energy-related matters and helping to further innovation, skills and diversity efforts amongst the industries.

During national ‘Offshore Wind Week’, a local launch event for the Offshore Energy Alliance will take place on Monday 18 November at the Birkenhead base of Mersey Maritime. Click here to register to attend.

Mersey Maritime chief executive, Chris Shirling-Rooke, said: “Mersey Maritime is the award-winning regional cluster organisation for the maritime sector in the Liverpool city region, with 17 years of experience in building collaboration between key partners and seizing opportunities to drive forward innovative projects.

“The need for transformative environmental initiatives is essential as we rise to the challenge of a low-carbon, low-cost energy sector which our members tell us is a key priority for them. Representing the whole maritime sector in the region, of which offshore is a key sub-sector, we are well placed to offer support to this new cluster.

“Powering up our coastal powerhouse communities is all about taking advantage of opportunities for growth that are right on our doorstep which this opportunity certainly is.”

Richard Sandford, director of offshore investment and asset management at innogy, said: “This cross-sectoral, cross-regional effort to bring the local supply chain together across the North West and North Wales region directly showcases the offshore wind industry’s efforts to deliver on the Sector Deal commitments.

“We are delighted to be joining forces with Mersey Maritime as an existing lead cluster organisation and to be working with other key organisations across the region to help deliver increased benefits to coastal communities.”