News & Articles on Offshore Wind
I’ve written very little about offshore wind. It’s a subject I don’t follow closely. Nevertheless, I do come across an article or topic on offshore wind from time to time that I want to highlight and that’s the reason for this page. Offshore wind is an important branch of wind energy, but it is only a branch. It will be important in certain locations, such as the heavily populated eastern seaboard of the United States, where it makes sense. However, most wind energy is and will be generated on land.
A few basic truths about offshore wind
By
Jérôme Guillet
So offshore wind has become, almost unexpectedly, a significant part of the picture when future renewable energy systems are considered – at least in OECD countries. It provides diversification, opportunities to Big Energy to go green, possibly less public hostility and potentially reasonable economics. But it’s worth remembering that even in Europe, it’s just 10% of the overall wind capacity installed (and a bit more of actual generation, thanks to higher capacity factors).
One worker reported dead and two critically injured in explosion at major wind industry supplier
By
External Source
One worker has been killed, and three injured, in an explosion at a factory run by Danish wind sector supplier Welcon, according to media reports in Denmark. The accident occurred at the company’s recently-expanded factory in the Give area of Denmark, and resulted in the death of a 41-year old Portuguese national, according to a report by Danish news website Vejile Amts Folkeblad, which quoted Stig Simonsen, a deputy police inspector at South East Jutland Police.
Fox anchor and climate contrarian defend Trump’s unhinged comments about whales and offshore wind
By
External Source
Fox anchor Martha MacCallum and anti-renewable energy activist Michael Shellenberger defended widely debunked statements former President Donald Trump made about whales and offshore wind farms at a recent campaign rally, instead crediting him for “shining a light” on the issue.
Offshore wind and big company lobbying
By
Jérôme Guillet
Don’t do tenders based on price if you don’t know when the project can get built (ie if projects are still subject to permitting processes or legal recourse or other uncontrollable delays). That’s a sure way to get unrealistic bids that will then be subject to lobbying and renegotiation.
Some positive thoughts about the UK CFD 5 auction
By
Jérôme Guillet
There were no successful bids from offshore wind projects in the latest CfD auction in the UK, and that is already described variously as a setback for net zero plans in the UK, and yet another nail in the coffin of the industry, already struggling from headwinds in the US and UK, where various projects are being cancelled or postponed, and PPAs abandoned or renegotiated. But I actually take it as a good thing, in that (i) it reflects cost discipline, and (ii) it proves that the tariff design is smart in that it avoids crazy bids like we have seen in other markets.
