Manufacturers are having a difficult time of it of late and figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that the automotive industry is not immune to the problem. Despite March normally being a bumper year due to new car registrations, the industry saw the weakest sales since March 1998, with new car sales slumping to 243,479 units, a drop of 14.3%. Manufacturers had reported robust order books during the first quarter, but ongoing supply chain shortages continued to squeeze supply during what is normally the industry’s busiest month as buyers demand the latest numberplate. This is, therefore, the weakest March since 1998, which was prior to the introduction of the two-plate system. Given around 20% of total annual registrations are usually recorded in March, the result is massively disappointing for the sector and underscores the long-term impact the pandemic is wreaking on the industry. In spite of the rollback of pandemic restrictions, which limited the industry to ‘click and collect’ in the first part of 2021, overall Q1 registrations for 2022 were down -1.9%.

Richard Peberdy, UK Head of Automotive, for KPMG comments : “It was widely anticipated that the automotive sector would take most of 2022 to sufficiently increase component capacity and put an end to the supply shortages that have limited car production during the pandemic.

But the implications of war in Ukraine and heightened restrictions in China add further complexity and exacerbate this challenge.

“Whilst supply shortages persist, production volumes will remain lower than pre-pandemic, and car makers will continue to focus on higher margin models, as well as the electric vehicles market.

Up until now, this has kept forecourt sales relatively healthy, and also driven up prices of used cars.  But the rising cost of living poses significant questions about whether consumers will delay, or even curtail, larger investments, such as on a car.  The coming months will tell.”

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, says, “March is typically the biggest month of the year for the new car market, so this performance is deeply disappointing and lays bare the challenges ahead. While demand remains robust, this decline illustrates the severity of the global semiconductor shortage, as manufacturers strive to deliver the latest, lowest emission vehicles to eagerly awaiting customers. Placing orders now will be beneficial for those looking to take advantage of incentives and lower running costs for electric vehicles, especially as the Ukraine crisis could affect supply still further. With increasing household and business costs, government must do all it can to support consumers so that the growth of electric vehicles can be sustained and the UK’s ambitious net zero timetable delivered.”

William Cook Cast Products, which has been casting steel in Sheffield since 1883, has joined the Nuclear AMRC to develop its capabilities for the nuclear sector and other low-carbon energy markets. William Cook Cast Products supplies high-specification cast steel components to all segments of the energy sector – from offshore drilling, to renewable power generation, to nuclear waste storage – as well as for demanding markets such as rail and defence. The Nuclear AMRC, at the University of Sheffield and part of the UK’s High Value Manufacturing Catapult, collaborates with companies of all sizes to help them innovate and win work in the nuclear supply chain. William Cook Cast Products’ new tier two membership of the Nuclear AMRC will help the company develop its technical and business capabilities for the nuclear sector, and build new relationships with the centre’s network of members and partner companies working across the nuclear new build, reactor development and decommissioning markets. The company will work with the centre’s engineers and research partners through collaborative R&D projects to improve the design and manufacturability of complex steel castings, and work towards achieving additional standard qualifications to allow it to produce certified safety-critical components for nuclear facilities. Chris Seymour, Group MD at William Cook, says: “Membership of the Nuclear AMRC will help us link up with more businesses in this sector. We have recently brought in heavy machining capability to the group and are currently in the middle of a £1.5 million investment in a new high-energy radiography facility. These investments together with membership of the Nuclear AMRC are part of our strategy to increase our footprint in the nuclear market. We want to be seen to be a trusted supplier of high integrity castings into this safety-critical market, which is part of an industry key to helping the world achieve its net-zero climate targets.” Sean Murphy, Strategic Relationship Manager at the Nuclear AMRC, says: “The potential opportunities for UK manufacturers within the nuclear supply chain have rarely looked better, so this is a good time to engage with Nuclear AMRC. We look forward to investigating R&D and process improvement projects together.” William Cook Cast Products already works with the Nuclear AMRC’s sister centres at the University of Sheffield. It became a member of the AMRC in 2016 to collaborate on casting R&D, and has worked with the AMRC Training Centre on apprentice training.

The Hornsea 2 wind farm is to be serviced by the world’s first service vessel powered by batteries and dual fuel engines running on renewable e-methanol produced from wind energy and biogenic carbon. To be built as part of a new pioneering agreement between Ørsted and ESVAGT, it’s claimed the new vessel will reduce emissions by 4,500 tonnes of CO2 every year. ESVAGT will start building the vessel in the second quarter of this year, and it is expected to be commissioned by the end of 2024. Mark Porter, Head of Offshore Operations at Ørsted, says: “As the world leader in offshore wind, it’s natural for Ørsted to take the lead in driving out fossil fuels from the industry. We’ve set clear targets and a clear direction towards net-zero emissions, and this new methanol-powered SOV is a tangible proof of our clear commitment to realise these targets. The agreement with ESVAGT checks many boxes for us, as it both helps decarbonise our offshore operations while also demonstrating our strong belief that green fuels based on renewable energy is the most viable solution to create a green maritime sector.” Søren Karas, Chief Strategy and Commercial Officer at ESVAGT, says: “This is an important milestone with real meaningful impact on the green transition. Ørsted and ESVAGT share an ambition for a sustainable future, and as an industry leader we’re committed to taking the lead in decarbonising the maritime industry. We’re delighted and proud to be able to take this bold step together with Ørsted towards making offshore wind marine solutions fossil free with an innovative new solution.” a market leader in service and support for offshore wind, have decided to invest in the world’s first service operation vessel (SOV) that can operate on green fuels. The SOV will be powered by batteries and dual fuel engines, capable of sailing on  which will lead to a yearly emission reduction of approx. 4,500 tonnes of CO₂. The maritime sector urgently needs new green fuels, which today come at a higher cost than the fossil-based alternatives. By ordering the new SOV, Ørsted and ESVAGT are showing their commitment to a green maritime sector and helping create the needed demand to accelerate to cost reductions of green fuels for the maritime industry. The investment decision also sends a clear signal that the future for both service and installation vessels is green. For the new SOV, Ørsted intends to supply the e-methanol. An offshore wind farm already has 99 % lower emissions than a coal fired power station, seen over the entire lifetime of the asset, including production, construction, and installation. Today’s announcement between ESVAGT and Ørsted will be a step on the way towards mitigating the remaining emissions. Furthermore, the decision to invest in the new green fuel SOV supports Ørsted’s target of becoming carbon-neutral in its energy generation and own operations by 2025 and is a tangible example of the company’s decarbonisation journey towards its science-based target of reaching net-zero emissions across the full value chain by 2040. Ørsted is the first energy company in the world with a science-based net-zero target, validated by Science Based Targets initiative.   Ørsted has implemented a systematic approach for reducing emissions from its offshore logistics through efficiency initiatives, including route optimisations and sailing at fuel-saving speeds. Ørsted has also implemented light hybrid crew transfer vessels for increased fuel efficiency. Over the past two years, Ørsted has built up a diverse portfolio of green fuel projects, three of which focus on producing e-methanol for maritime transport. The portfolio includes a newly announced project on the US Gulf Coast, which will supply 300,000 tonnes of e-methanol for A.P. Moller – Maersk’s fleet of zero-emissions vessels, as well as the projects ‘Green Fuels for Denmark’ and FlagshipONE in Sweden. Both projects can supply around 50,000 tonnes of e-methanol for shipping in 2024-2025. Fact box: The floating home of offshore wind Servicing an offshore wind farm takes a great deal of effort and is handled by a highly specialised team of service technicians that are often offshore for weeks at a time. During their stay offshore, the technicians live on a Service Operation Vessel (SOV), which also hosts an on-board workshop and much of the equipment and spare parts needed to service an offshore wind farm. The new state-of-the-art ESVAGT SOV incorporates the newest technologies. and the ESVAGT crew is highly trained and enabled by digital tools. The SOV is designed for comfort and high workability, providing a highly efficient workspace and safe transfer of technicians at the windfarm via a motion-compensated gangway and transfer boats as well as a crane to lift heavy spare parts. As a floating home, it also offers recreational activities for the on-board crew and technicians, including fitness facilities, a game room, a cinema, and individual accommodation.  The SOV is also equipped with a helipad for fast access and transfers from shore.