In the UK the plans are set for a major growth in Offshore Wind
The offshore wind industry continues to face many challenges especially with the economic and political situation facing both Europe and North America. Lowering the cost of offshore wind is critical to ensure it is competitive with other energy production technologies and this requires new ideas, innovation and a willingness to step away from the comfort zone. However, the 'comfort zone' has become less comfortable in recent times with offshore WTG piled foundation grout failures. Comments from the offshore engineering community suggest the offshore wind industry is still going through a major learning curve.
In the UK the plans are set for a major growth in Offshore Wind yet the cost of doing this is a big challenge. Reducing the cost is the focus of a wide range of innovative groups including WTG and foundation manufacturers as well as installation contractors. A number of innovation projects have received funding but there is still a gap before these new technologies are accepted by the industry. Why? The equity funding organisations have repeatedly shown they have little or no appetite for risk. Yet these new ideas will reduce the costs. Convincing the equity market to back these new products and tools is a huge block which is not easy to overcome as companies need to prove the technology using grant or their own funds. And even then, once they have done this, no offshore wind farm builder is going to give an order to a company without a proven track record. So watch out innovators, you need deep pockets and a large partner! This conference will explore these challenges with each stakeholder in the offshore wind market.
In North America there seems to be more press comment on the politically motivated opposition groups than anything else. And now the Canadian offshore wind industry has had the huge setback by the Ontario provincial government's decision to stop all offshore wind developments in the Great Lakes around Ontario until further work is done on understanding the environmental impact. Yet the appetite for onshore wind is reducing even in these sparsely occupied territories and the Great Lakes offer the best wind regime in North America. Canada also has an opportunity to export power to the USA but in the context of very low cost hydro electricity, the need to reduce the cost of wind power is also pressing. So how will North America deal with these problems and what can be learned from Europe - these will be the key focal points for discussion at this conference.
What is clear is the low carbon agenda will not go away and with the very serious problems now facing the nuclear industry in Japan and beyond in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami, offshore wind power is still one of the most interesting energy technologies in the 21st century. The “Offshore Wind Energy” conference, taking place 13-14 April 2011 in London, will be the right platform providing an opportunity to listen and contribute to the debate and the way forward.
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