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A new report has revealed floating offshore wind developments could add 17,000 jobs and generate £33.6 billion of gross value added to the UK by 2050.

The study by Offshore Renewable Energy, commissioned by the Crown Estate Scotland, outlined the potentially huge benefits to the UK economy of a renewable industry in its early stage of development.

It comes a day before the Floating Offshore Wind UK 2018 conference and exhibition at Aberdeen's AECC.

In Scotland, there are currently two operational test and demonstration scale projects while elsewhere in the UK, there is interest in future floating wind projects at commercial scale, with significant aspirations in Cornwall.

The report says that if the contribution of offshore wind is to continue to grow, then floating wind will be increasingly important, contributing at least 10GW by 2050.

The global potential market for floating wind is also significantly larger than that for fixed offshore wind due to the extent of deep waters which are much more suitable for floating developments.

It adds that with the right type and levels of early stage support, it would be possible to continue to grow the floating wind sector in the UK and to benefit from that in terms of industry and jobs.

Sian Wilson, senior development manager at Crown Estate Scotland, said, “At a time when the need to tackle climate change has never been greater or starker, and policy support for innovation, industrialisation and regeneration of high quality jobs is increasing, the floating wind opportunity ticks all the boxes. Thousands of UK jobs, global exports and clean and secure energy generation are all up for grabs – if the right government support is in place.”

The report's author, ORE Catapult’s head of insights Gavin Smart, added: “Offshore wind will play a significant role in the UK in maximising the economic and industrial benefits of renewable energy generation. However, to reach anything like its full potential will require a significant contribution from floating wind.

“A key part of this study has been industry engagement in formulating and testing assumptions. This has highlighted the strengths of the UK supply chain to serve the domestic and export markets, leveraging heavily from a proven track record in offshore wind and oil and gas.

“With an increasing focus on carbon emissions reductions globally, and the suitability of floating wind technologies to a wide range of water depths and seabed conditions, the UK is well-placed to capitalise on the export opportunities in this growing global market.”

Scottish Renewables has backed the report.

Policy manager Stephanie Conesa said: "Floating wind provides an enormous economic opportunity for Scotland and its development, as well as that of other earlier-stage technologies, has the potential to provide renewable electricity in locations where other renewable energy devices cannot be deployed."