Thursday, January 9, 2025

Offshore Wind News

Denmark Issues Offshore Wind Permit

(c) Adobestock Photocreo Bednarek

The Danish Energy Agency has granted a construction permit for 240-megawatt (MW) Jammerland Bugt offshore wind farm, which is expected to start operating in 2029, developer European Energy said on Tuesday.The project is located in the Bay of Jammerland, on the western side of the island of Zealand.The offshore wind farm is expected to produce power equating the electricity consumption of around 240,000 European households per year, the developer said.The company did not provide any details on the cost of the project…

Iberdrola Gets Portugese Nod for Wind Farm Start

(c) artjazz Adobestock

Iberdrola has received a production license from the Portuguese Directorate-General for Energy and Geology of Portugal (DGEG), taking another step towards the construction of the largest wind farm in Portugal.Located in the districts of Vila Real and Braga, in northern Portugal, with a total investment of around €350 million, this project reinforces Iberdrola's commitment to environmental goals, being the first to combine wind and hydro energy. This implies sharing of the connection point and the evacuation line of electricity produced…

Winds of Change Blew Through Offshore Wind, and Denmark Missed It

Analysts said that the failure of Denmark to receive any bids for an offshore wind energy tender this week is due to a rigid auction system, a failure adapt to a changing economic reality and increased competition.It was a major blow for Denmark, the home of turbine manufacturer Vestas, and offshore developer Orsted. Both companies have been pioneers in both onshore and offshore wind power.The Danish North Sea tender, for a minimum of 3GW of capacity, did not offer any subsidies. Instead, it invited competition for payments to be made over 30 years by the state.

Macquarie-backed Offshore Sind Developer Corio Cuts Jobs

Corio Generation, the UK-based offshore wind developer backed by Australia's Macquarie Group, plans to cut a small number of jobs roles, a company spokesperson told Reuters.Ballooning costs due to technical and supply chain problems and high interest rates has had many offshore wind sector companies review investments or undertake restructurings."As with many companies in the offshore wind sector, we are making some organizational changes to ensure Corio remains efficient and focused on the delivery of our projects in our key markets," the spokesperson added.The job cuts were first reported by Bloomberg News, citing a

No Subsidies, No Bids: Denmark Largest Offshore Wind Tender Falls Flat


Trekroner Fort, a historical fortress situated on an artificial island near the harbor of Copenhagen Denmark in the Øresund strait, with offshore wind turbines in the background See Less
Copyright Dylan/AdobeStock

In the wake of Donald Trump's election as U.S. President, all eyes have been trained on the U.S. Offshore Wind market and future, with his promise to stifle the U.S. Offshore Wind market in favor of oil and gas. But a recent lackluster performance from a leading Scandinavian country suggests the slow down in offshore wind energy projects may be spreading.Denmark's latest offshore wind farm tender in the North Sea has failed to attract any bids, authorities said on Thursday, in a further setback for the industry.After a year of challenges…

Ørsted to Shed Part of its UK Wind Farm Stake - Bloomberg News

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Bloomberg News reported Monday that Denmark's Ørsted had begun selling a stake in the largest wind farm planned for the United Kingdom coast. The report was based on people familiar with this matter. Reports added that the Danish utility is looking to sell around 50% of the Hornsea 3 Project, but did not specify the price at which it would like to do so.Ørsted's spokesperson confirmed that in February, the company said it had planned to sell its Hornsea III stake by 2025. In October, Brookfield purchased a minority stake in four of the company's British offshore wind farms that are currently operational for 1…

Change of Ørsted Region Americas CEO

Ørsted announced today that David Hardy, Group EVP and CEO Americas, has decided to leave the company to join GE Vernova as Chief Commercial Officer, Wind. He will step down from his position effective November 30.The search for a successor Region Americas CEO is well underway. In the interim period, Ørsted's Chief Commercial Officer and Deputy CEO, Rasmus Errboe, will guide and support the experienced senior leadership team in the U.S. market.Mads Nipper, Group CEO, says, “I want to thank David for his five years with Ørsted.

Orsted says US Green Energy Demand Will Grow Regardless of Election Results

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Orsted said that the demand for green power will continue to grow in the United States, regardless of the person who is elected as president. However, the group also pointed out construction issues and increased costs at an offshore wind farm in the United States.The U.S. offshore industry is a young one, and it has already been affected by cancelled projects. Lease sales have also been put on hold. And there was a serious construction accident that occurred at the first major offshore project in the country.As part of the administration of President Joe Biden…

US Offshore Wind Execs Fret Possible Trump Victory

The U.S. Offshore Wind Developers put on a brave front at a conference in Washington this week. They praised their ability to work together with leaders of both political parties. However, attendees privately worried that things might get tough for them if Republican Donald Trump wins the 2024 presidential election.Former President and Republican nominee, Donald Trump, has promised to cancel offshore wind projects on his first day of office if he wins the White House. He claims that windmills are…

Svendborg Brakes' Yaw Brake Solution Transforms Wind Turbine Maintenance

Image GettyImages courtesy Regal Rexnord

When damaged yaw brake discs were preventing numerous wind turbines from operating in optimum conditions, their operator was looking for an economical maintenance service that would ensure the turbines’ availability. Svendborg Brakes, a Regal Rexnord Brand, developed a new solution to quickly restore operations - cutting disc resurfacing activities and exchange pads to only 3 days, while requiring only a day and a half of true downtime. As the Wind Industry navigates short-term challenges and sustained growth potential…

TWP Files Onshore Scoping Report for Bowdun Offshore Wind Farm

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Thistle Wind Partners (TWP), a consortium of DEME Concessions, Qair and Aspiravi, has submitted a scoping report for the onshore infrastructure related to its 1 GW Bowdun offshore wind farm in Scotland.The report provides information on the proposed onshore infrastructure and further outlines the approach to the Environmental Impact Assessment, including baseline data sources.Bowdun offshore wind farm, an approximately 1 GW fixed-foundation project located 44 km to the east of Stonehaven, will connect…

US opponents of offshore wind projects form national group in order to combat the project

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According to two organizations and the founder of this effort, U.S. opponents to offshore wind developments are creating a coalition to fight projects in California as well as New England.According to Mandy Davis, the president of NOOA, it aims to give a national voice to a movement that is currently fragmented into dozens of groups.Offshore wind in the United States is still a young industry and an important part of President Joe Biden’s climate-change plan. Residents are concerned that the installation of turbines on every U.S. coast has a negative impact on tourism and property values.

Contracts Awarded for Poland's First Offshore Wind Farm

Image courtesy SeaRenergy Group/Baltic power

SeaRenergy Group was awarded a Marine Coordination Services contract by Baltic Power for the construction phase of the Baltic Power offshore wind farm.The services will be kicked off with the preparatory phase in summer, with operations starting in the last quarter of 2024.SeaRenergy’s comprehensive Marine Coordination Service involves ship registration, personnel registration and check-in, inspection, and construction site monitoring based on an innovative Vessel Traffic Management and Maritime Surveillance Systems provided by experienced long-term partner Vissim AS.

Solar, Wind Uptake to Reach 5.4 TWac from 2024 to 2033, Says Wood Mackenzie

Solar: Cumulative installed global solar PV capacity to nearly quadruple from 2024 to 2033. Source Wood Mackenzie

Global solar deployment to add 3.8 TWac of new project capacity by 2033 compared to 1.6 TW of wind power, while 640% growth is forecast for energy storageFrom 2024 to 2033, developers will bring more than 5.4 terawatts (TWac) of new solar and wind capacity online, increasing the cumulative global total to 8 TWac, as the world endeavours to electrify economies and meet decarbonisation targets, according to latest analysis by Wood Mackenzie.Energy storage capacity (excluding pumped hydro) will grow by more than 600%, with nearly 1 TW of new capacity expected to come online in the same period.

Floating Wind Leasing Round in the Celtic Sea

Image courtesy RenewableUK Cymru

The Crown Estate, which manages the seabed around England, Wales and Northern Ireland, has set out further details of a new leasing round for three commercial-scale floating wind projects in the Celtic Sea off the coast of South Wales and South West England. The projects have the potential to deliver enough clean, renewable energy for more than four million homes.In one of the largest initiatives of its kind in the world, sites totalling 4.5GW of floating wind off the coast of South Wales and South West England will be leased across three agreed areas of the Celtic Sea.

Vattenfall, BASF Partner on Nordlicht 1 and 2

Iimage courtesy Vattenfall and BASF

Vattenfall and BASF are in advanced and exclusive discussions to partner on the Nordlicht 1 and 2 projects through a sale of 49 percent of the project shares to BASF. Both parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formally express their joint ambition. The Nordlicht wind park zone is located 85 km north of the island of Borkum in the German North Sea and consists of two separate sites: Nordlicht 1 with a capacity of 980 MW and Nordlicht 2 with 630 MW. Vattenfall develops and constructs the Nordlicht sites.

Enerpac wins Calvados Offshore Wind Farm Deal

Transition pieces for Calvados offshore wind farm with Enerpac levelling cylinders fitted. Image courtesy Enerpac

Enerpac won a contract by Saipem to supply the Hydraulic Levelling and Fixation System for the installation of 64 transition pieces (TP) at the offshore wind farm in France. The Enerpac system is designed to allow accurate levelling and fixation of the transition pieces on the monopile foundation, enabling maximum turbine power generation.Grouted connections are widely used in offshore wind turbine construction to transfer multiple loads from the transition piece fitted on top of the monopile foundation. The transition piece is first lowered onto the monopile and levelled.

Siemens Energy Shares Tumble 31% as Wind Turbine Troubles Exposed

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Siemens Energy saw $6.3 billion wiped off its market capitalization on Friday after warning that the impact of quality problems at its Siemens Gamesa wind turbine business would be felt for years.The group scrapped its 2023 profit outlook late on Thursday after a review of its wind turbine division exposed deeper-than-expected problems that could cost more than 1 billion euros."This is a disappointing and severe setback," Siemens Gamesa CEO Jochen Eickholt told journalists on a call."I have said several times that there is actually nothing visible at Siemens Gamesa that I have not seen elsewhere.

Offshore Wind: Floating Wind is the Future

Image courtesy Intelatus

$3 billion forecast to be invested in new anchor handlers to meet floating wind demand.Floating wind is an emerging technology. Currently being tested in small scale demonstration and pilot projects, global floating wind commissioned capacity at the end of 2022 was less than 200 MW. By 2030, close to 11 GW of commercial scale wind farms are planned to be commissioned in Europe and the Asia Pacific Region. 2030-2035 will see a period a high commissioning activity as the USA joins established European and Asia Pacific markets.

Markets: The Challenges of Developing Floating Wind at Scale

Hywind Scotland, the world.s first floating wind farm, operated by Equinor. (Credit: Signal Film / ©Equinor)

Tens of gigawatts of floating wind projects are slated for development in this and the next decade, but many obstacles remain.There has been much focus on the emerging floating wind market of late.The U.K. is forging ahead with commercial scale floating wind developments through the Scotwind and INTOG awards of at least 24 gigawatts (GW) of floating wind capacity representing close to 1,500 floating turbines that will come on stream through 2030. And this will be soon followed by the award of at least 4 GW of capacity through the Celtic Sea floating wind auctions. The U.S.