Building a Robust Offshore Wind Energy Sector
Offshore renewable energy — composed of offshore wind and solar and ocean energy technologies — presents huge potential for additional global capacity. With its clear synergies with the [offshore] oil and gas industry, opportunities for technology and skillset transfers are also strong accelerators of its growth.
Offshore wind energy is a large subset of offshore renewable energy and offers tremendous potential for capacity generation given that turbines situated in remote locations, such as offshore, can deliver capacities of 3–5MW compared to MW of onshore turbines (IRENA, n.d.).
As such, we invited Danielle Veldman, Customer Relations Manager of Netherlands Wind Energy Association (NWEA), to share her insights on key issues surrounding the development of offshore wind energy in the Netherlands and Europe in general.
The full version of this blog was first posted TechnologyCatalogue.com. Access it here.
1. Wind energy undoubtedly presents huge potential to accelerate the energy transition. What are the challenges and opportunities surrounding the development of wind energy as one of the primary energy sources?
In discussing challenges and opportunities for offshore wind, as in any other renewable energy source, the most important thing is alignment: alignment between the supply and demand, as well as the alignment between policy and execution. There are many things going on in the entire offshore wind industry, but we have to focus on making these connections work.
For instance, looking at the industry, there is a need to make sure that the electrification of the energy industry is pushed. On the supply side, we know how to deliver energy: the supply chain is there, we know how to build wind farms, the basic frameworks are there, etc. We have the energy supply, but if the demand is not properly aligned with the supply, it is really hard to achieve a sustainable system change.
And this is one of our focus areas now — that we not only look at our industry, but the entire system to see how wind energy will be used and to guarantee that there is sufficient demand. We recently started an initiative called “Wind Meets Industry” and that is focused on having a constant dialogue between wind energy stakeholders and industrial parties (i.e. steel, chemical industries) to align the supply and demand.
On the policy and execution side, we have to make sure that conditions are right to realise the ambitions we set: that the turbines and cables are available, that there are sufficient vessels to build wind turbines offshore, etc. All the supply chain issues are very important. There is a need for us to look at not just our ambitions and a stable timeframe to realise them, but also those that are parts of the supply chain system. We should not be working in separate bubbles.
So overall, we should talk about plans, objectives and funding, but we also need to look at constructibility — whether we can execute everything in a realistic way. And this should be the case not just in the Netherlands, but also in Europe and globally.
And now that we are faced with a war in Ukraine, which changes the global energy market dynamics as well as the perception towards energy supply security, this may give a renewed push towards renewables. Still, the question remains: how can we realise our renewable energy plans within the timeframe set?
Nevertheless, we are sure that offshore wind energy is the main enabler for the energy transition. And to realise its full potential, all stakeholders should align their plans. We should avoid that there would be competition between projects, or even countries, on resources, especially now that capacities are scarce.
2. Which industries are relevant to the development of wind energy? Is repurposing of assets of conventional industries possible?
Within the wind industry, many of the assets that we have from the oil and gas industry, such as marine equipment, can be used. Many of the vessels can be used. As far as the supply chain is concerned, there is a suite of companies already in a position to make the move from fossil fuels to renewable energy. With the knowledge and experience they have, they can easily use the expertise to apply to the renewables sector. So, in many cases, there is no need to reinvent the wheel. The oil and gas industry is quite mature, and since the offshore wind industry is still building up, we can learn and benefit from their experiences.
Other industries we can look at are the usual suspects that may have worked within the maritime and energy sector before: finance industry, consultancy companies assisting firms in the pre-development phase, certification bodies, logistics and recruitment agencies and so on.
On repurposing of assets of conventional industries: yes, it is really possible for offshore wind energy. Apart from facilities, you can also take stock of the available soft skills used in the conventional industries such as expertise on health, safety and environment awareness, among others.
Read the full version of this blog here.
