UK ‘Export Nation’ in Wind, Wave & Tidal Energy Industries

Forty-three British companies doing business in wind and marine energy sectors closed 445 deals for 434 projects across the globe and exported goods and services to 44 countries in 2017, with Germany being the leading market, according to RenewableUK’s latest report Export Nation. 

RenewableUK’s report, released after a survey carried out with the 43 companies as an illustrative sample, demonstrates the global success of UK-based companies working in the onshore and offshore wind, wave and tidal energy industries, the UK organisation said.

The contracts were worth up to GBP 7.5 million each, with some companies earning GBP 20 million overall from their wind and marine energy exports last year.

RenewableUK’s Chief Executive Hugh McNeal said: “It’s great to see that UK companies are winning multi-million pound contracts to work on wind and marine energy projects on all seven continents. We are an outward-looking sector, increasingly export-led, securing new deals worldwide.”

UK companies delivered contracts ranging from exporting small onshore wind turbines, providing 80-metre blades and cables for offshore wind farms, to exporting expertise by providing consultants for foreign projects.

After Germany as the top export destination in 2017, these companies delivered their goods and/or services to, in order of importance: the USA, France, Denmark, China, the Netherlands, Ireland, Taiwan, Belgium and Japan, with other significant markets being Australia, Singapore and South Korea.

We are working with the Department for International Trade and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to secure continued growth in the industries we represent. Globally, the renewable energy market is worth over $300bn a year; in 2017 we saw investment in renewables reach $333.5 billion, bringing cumulative global investment since 2010 to $2.5 trillion.

As the UK leaves the European Union, we must ensure that we seize export opportunities for our businesses in global growth sectors such as renewable energy.

“The global renewable energy market is now worth over $300 billion a year. Making the most of our international trading opportunities in clean energy will help us to grow British industry and boost the future prosperity of the UK economy,” McNeal said.