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From 0 to 175 by 2050

Poised for growth

Around 80 percent of China’s electricity generation in 2050 can be met by renewable sources if appropriate policies and measures are taken, according to a report by Energy Transition Research Institute and WWF from February 2014*. And that has big implications for offshore wind in China.
From a starting point of 0 in 2011, the report projects possible growth in capacity to 175 GW by 2050. Interestingly, the report also finds that the total cost of power generation is less if transitioned to 80% renewable electricity sources by 2050 than if no specific clean energy or efficiency policies were made.

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Is the supergrid starting in the Baltic Sea?

In 2014, construction will begin at Kriegers Flak, the site of the first offshore wind farms to enable electricity trading between countries. Will it all end as an isolated project connecting Germany and Denmark – or is this the start of something much more significant? Continue reading →

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UK wind breaks all the records

The final month of 2013 saw wind power break a bunch of records in the UK. More power was generated than ever before.

The proportion of power supplied by wind, as opposed to other electricity sources, was also higher than ever. And from 16-22 December, wind provided an unprecedented 13% of the total electricity needs for Britain. Finally, on a single day – Saturday 21 December – wind covered 17% of business and consumer needs! Continue reading →

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An industry on the move

By Martin Huss, CSO, A2SEA

Northern Europe can be proud of its well-developed offshore wind supply chain. After all, it uniquely boasts a track record stretching over more than a decade, sophisticated knowhow and facilities, and last but certainly not least, a qualified workforce that has gotten its feet wet with a wide variety of turbines, foundations, wind farm locations and weather conditions. Continue reading →

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Size matters

Super-sized monopiles are a tough challenge for the offshore wind supply chain. But where will it end?

Larger and larger, it seems. In July, foundation manufacturer EEW Special Pipe Constructions GmbH achieved a 10 m diameter cylinder rolled from a 31.4 x 3 m plate! The company is expecting to receive initial enquiries for projects with diameters of up to 9 m already this year.

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New investors in the wind

Offshore wind energy investments have largely been an elite playground for Europe’s utilities. But new sources of funding are arriving as the compelling business case presented by offshore wind becomes more widely recognised. Continue reading →

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A Chinese experience

For Junior Engineering Inspector Michael Højbjerg, the chance to join the A2SEA site office in Qidong, China, where SEA CHALLENGER is under construction, was an exciting opportunity to (literally) get deep into the workings of the new, second-generation vessel. Continue reading →

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Offshore wind loses momentum – for now

By Jens Frederik Hansen, CEO, A2SEA A/S

Adjusted market expectations mean the next 2-3 years will present a new set of challenges for offshore wind. Jens Frederik Hansen examines the likely impact on the construction supply chain. Continue reading →

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Market insights

Follow the leader

The UK currently has more offshore wind power than anyone else, and has already crossed the 3GW installed capacity threshold. That’s already enough to power over 2.5 million homes. We looked online to see what people are saying recently about the UK’s leadership position… Continue reading →

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A strong future for global offshore wind

Offshore wind energy on a global scale is still in its infancy. While Northern Europe leads the industry and has made vast leaps in a relatively short time, there’s also great potential in other regions around the world. To find out more about this potential, we spoke to Robert Clover, Research Director at MAKE Consulting. Continue reading →