I’m a firm believer that the future, whatever it will bring, is created here and now. And I’m often reminded of this perspective when thinking about the offshore wind industry – particularly with regard to the current situations in Germany and the UK.
Recent turbulence has left the German market a mixed bag for supply chain participants and investors. However, with the first major project successfully completed and more on the way, the general atmosphere is quickly becoming more positive. TurbineInstaller reviews the current state of offshore wind in German waters. Continue reading
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
By Thomas Becker, CEO, EWEA
When you spend money on something, you expect to get something back. If you spend it on a house, you expect to get somewhere nice to live – and if you sell it later on, to make a reasonable profit. If you are a financier looking to invest millions in an offshore wind farm, you expect a return on your investment. If that return becomes uncertain, you will put your money elsewhere. Continue reading
By Kaj Lindvig, Senior Advisor, A2SEA A/S
Stable, long-term policy support and almost super-human planning skills are must-haves for any industry that involves projects as large and as lengthy as today’s offshore wind farms. Perhaps understandably, getting that kind of support in place is no easy task – particularly with the number of stakeholders and considerations involved. The result, particularly where the German market is concerned, is a bumpy, start-stop ride whose costs implications have damaged the industry’s reputation and attractiveness to investors. Continue reading