Editorial CommEnt
Offshore wind farms:
breaking through the
bureaucratic barriers
all over Europe countries are planning on utilising offshore wind
power. (Photo copyright EWEa/WintEr.)
F
rom initial site selection through to produce 12% of total electricity - equivalent to connections, and complex authorisation
planning, installation, and operation, more than a third of the electricity target - but procedures are seen as key obstacles by the
today’s offshore wind industry covers only if offshore wind is developed. offshore industry.
a wide range of disciplines, expertise, and In response to the 2020 target, the wind Certain barriers - such as feed-in tariffs
industrial sectors. At present, only five countries industry has put together a series of policy and an overcomplicated authorisation process
within Europe have operating offshore wind all over Europe - are slowing down the
farms, namely, Denmark, Sweden, the UK, development of offshore and presented recent
The Netherlands, and Ireland. However, other
“In order fully
and necessary changes to policy framework.
countries, such as Germany and France, are A year ago, to assist the laborious process,
in the process of developing new offshore to develop and the European Commission created the
capacity.
An increase in the use of offshore wind power
exploit the potential
Priority Interconnection Plan (PIP). This
energy package seeks to create a European
would reduce CO
2
and increase the security of
of this highly
electricity market and grid in order to
energy supply, as well as providing additional facilitate cross-border exchanges. Thirty-two
employment in areas such as construction, promising energy electricity lines have been selected around
engineering, and ship logistics. In order fully
source, a European
Europe and should be upgraded to help
to develop and exploit the potential of this enable this.
highly promising energy source, a European
offshore wind policy
To further help the promotion of offshore
offshore wind policy is crucial. Recently, the wind farms, the European Commission has
European Parliament adopted Rapporteur
is crucial”
now appointed four energy coordinators
Britta Thomsen’s report, which called on the whose specific role will be to facilitate future
Commission to draw up an action plan for offshore projects.
offshore wind, a sign that there is considerable recommendations for large-scale deployment This year is expected to be a good year
support within the Parliament for the idea of of offshore wind in the coming 13 years. Some for offshore wind turbines in Europe, with
such a policy. key recommendation included establishing a number of projects being completed in
Crucial steps forward in the development stable, long-term markets for offshore the North Sea and the UK. In addition to
of offshore wind were taken at the European wind, increasing research and technological this, both Germany and Spain, which have
Offshore Wind Energy Conference, held development, improving grid integration, projects underway, but no operational farms,
in Berlin at the end of last year, notably the and facilitating efficient planning procedures. are pushing through the red tape to start
announcement of an action plan for offshore It is estimated that if barriers are removed, up testing and construction.
wind energy. This is key to meeting the 20% to 40GW of offshore wind energy could be Do we know what long-term impact
renewables target. Also of great importance operating in the European Union by 2020, these farms may be having on our marine
was the signing of the joint declaration for supplying a modest 4% of Europe’s electricity. life, tides, flora and fauna, and coastlines? Is
research cooperation by Sweden, Denmark, To support the necessary growth and the destruction of nature an acceptable price
and Germany. expansion of offshore wind in order to meet to pay in order to satisfy our ever-growing
The 2020 energy target could mean 34% of the EU’s 20% renewables target, several energy needs? Regardless, it is high time
electricity provided by renewables, according to barriers need to be overcome. Low feed-in the barriers to a sensible form of renewable
the European Commission. Wind energy can tariffs for offshore, limited and costly grid energy were lowered for us all. OMT
Offshore Marine Technology 1st Quarter 2008 3
OMT 1stQ 08 - p3.indd 1 11/02/2008 11:36:20
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24