Offshore wind news

[ombugge]

European offshore wind sets records with 4.2 GW coming online in 2023 -...

According to WindEurope, auctions will be the theme of 2024. If all countries run their auctions as planned, at least 40 GW will be auctioned during the year with Germany, Denmark, the UK, France, and the Netherlands as the top five countries set to auction capacity over the next two years.

[ombugge]

Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners launches energy island developer - Splash247

Some of the advantages of energy islands include a substantial reduction in power transmission costs, large-scale offshore green hydrogen production, and synergies between power and hydrogen production.

“[The] challenge for offshore wind is less about building the incremental offshore wind farm, but more about how to integrate large-scale offshore wind energy into the global energy systems. We see energy islands as a key tool in solving this challenge and realizing the ambitious offshore wind targets across the globe,” said Jakob Baruël Poulsen, managing partner and founder of CIP.

[ombugge]

Contrary to popular belief:

Lots of Good News - and Good Numbers - Again in Offshore Win

Europe is set to build around 5 GW of offshore wind annually over the next three years. This is not enough to reach Europe’s climate and energy security targets. It adds to the need to install more offshore wind towards the end of the decade. European countries will need to build 24 GW a year in the period 2027-2030 to reach the 2030 targets. But today’s offshore wind supply chain can only produce around 7 GW each year.

[ombugge]

Poland is gearing up to receiving power from OWF in the Baltic:

PGE, Ørsted select contractor to build Baltica 2 onshore link

[ombugge]

Clean and greener than thou:

Vestas introduces low-emission steel offering for wind turbines

Even though the low emission steel is not yet a standard offering from Vestas, the first project utilizing low-emission steel will be the Baltic Power Offshore Wind Project off the coast of Poland. During 2025, Vestas will start the construction of the offshore wind farm, expected to generate up to up to 1.2 GW and ultimately supply clean electricity to more than 1,5 million households in Poland. Vestas will supply, install, and commission 76 V236-15.0 MW wind turbines for the Baltic Power Offshore Wind Project. The top section of 52 towers out of the 76 will be made with low-emission steel.

[ombugge]

Full Mission Bridge Simulator opened in Akita, Japan:

Japanese simulator centre opens for offshore training

Both companies engage in collaborative initiatives with local governmental bodies and educational institutions to actively contribute to offshore human resource development.
“The strategic focus of this project is on expanding the offshore wind industry,” said Damen regional sales director for Asia Pacific, Thomas Röwekamp. “It also looks to ensure a skilled workforce.”

[ombugge]

Ørsted to take full ownership of Sunrise wind project off New York - Splash247

The acquisition is subject to the successful award of Sunrise Wind in the ongoing New York 4 solicitation for offshore wind capacity, signing of an Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Certificates contract with New York’s energy agency, entry into long-form acquisition agreements, receipt of construction and operations plan, and relevant regulatory approvals.

[ombugge]

Lots of changes in US OWF concession ownership:

Ørsted withdraws from Maryland offshore wind farm deal - Splash247

Equinor and BP part ways in US offshore wind swap deal - Splash247

[ombugge]

More US OWF news:

First OSS for 2.6GW US Offshore Wind Project Arrives to Denmark

A consortium of strategic partners Bladt Industries and Semco Maritime was awarded a turnkey contract for the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project by the Dominion Energy Virginia back in November 2021.
The contract comprises three 880 MW OSS units that will constitute the backbone of the electrical infrastructure for the 2.6 GW offshore wind project.

[ombugge]

GBP 500m of projects advance in Scotland in good news for offshore wind

“In Stage 2 the focus will be on how to support infrastructure and supply chain projects in Scotland. Offshore wind developers, Enterprise Agencies, Scottish Government, Scottish National Investment Bank and other interested parties, will work collaboratively to help these projects gain the confidence and backing they need to move ahead. In testing its approach with the three initial projects, the SIM will be looking to better understand how different means of support can be brought together to help projects reach final investment decision,” SOWEC says in an update today.

[ombugge]

Sapura Energy faces $54m arbitration claim over Taiwan wind farm contract -...

[ombugge]

Germany invites bids for 2.5 GW of North Sea wind projects

In the dynamic bidding process implemented in 2023 Germany earned a total of EUR 12.6 billion (USD 13.63bn), with 90% of the proceeds allocated to reducing electricity costs.

But there may be a snag:

Grid expansion delays put Germany's offshore wind targets at risk

Germany aims to raise its installed wind energy capacity in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea to 30 GW by 2030. Currently, the country has 8,465 MW in operation. Three more projects are under construction and two of them totalling 718 MW are planned to go online in 2024.

Map source: Federal Network Agency

[ombugge]

Swire Renewable Energy buys UK blade repair firm - Splash247

[ombugge]

Kan det blir for mye vind for en vindturbin? 💨 | Kan det blir for mye vind...

Can there be too much wind for a wind turbine?
Storm Ingunn has ravaged the coast of Norway in recent days. Here you can see how our floating turbines fared at Hywind Tampen when the storm hit!

[ombugge]

Ørsted hit by hard times:

Ørsted to cut up to 800 jobs and exit some offshore wind markets - Splash247

[ombugge]

WIND WARNING: Wind Power Giants See Little Shelter From Sector Troubles -...

[ombugge]

OWF developments in the North Sea benefit suppliers of equipment and serivces worldwide:

Seatrium to construct third offshore wind project for TenneT - Splash247

“With this latest project, Seatrium is currently working on five HDVC offshore converter platforms, creating a franchise for series-built opportunities in HVDCs to achieve greater synergies from project repeatability,” said Samuel Wong, EVP for fixed platforms at Seatrium.

[ombugge]

Equinor and Ørsted win New York offshore wind auction - Splash247

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) said the projects would create more than 800 construction jobs and see investment of around $2bn across the state. The two projects will also be the largest power generation projects in New York State in over 35 years once they enter operation in 2026.

[ombugge]

Odfjell Oceanwind launches floating wind foundation manufacturing venture -...

The company is currently in talks with land owners, ports and logistic bases to host its first factories, which are planned to be located strategically in close proximity to the markets that are expected to develop first for floating offshore wind, including the North Sea basin, which is likely to see the first large-scale floating wind farms at the end of this decade.

[ombugge]

First Offshore Wind Farm Approved to Connect to New York's Grid

With FERC’s clearance, the 810 megawatts of renewable electricity from Empire Wind 1offshore wind project can be connected to the New York City electrical grid at Con Edison’s Gowanus substation via the Sunset Park Onshore Substation at South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SBMT), the company said.

Empire Wind is set to transform the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SBMT) into a major offshore wind industry assembly facility and operations and maintenance base. SBMT, a 73-acre site, will become one of the largest dedicated port facilities for offshore wind in the U.S., supporting the assembly of offshore wind turbine components. It will also host the onshore substation for Empire Wind 1 and provide onshore power and charging for the Empire Wind Service Operations Vessel (SOV), the first plug-in hybrid vessel for the U.S. offshore wind industry.

Artistic rendering of concept for site development of the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal. Credit: Equinor