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Wind
European Offshore Wind Power –
New Dimensions in Electricity Generation
a report by
Bruce Douglas
Chief Operating Officer, European Wind Energy Association (EWEA)
While European onshore wind farms are enjoying considerable order for that to happen, Europe needs to get serious about collectively
success since becoming a proven and mature market, offshore wind and strategically exploiting its vast offshore wind resource. To allow
power is beginning to advance in the Baltic and North Seas. Already offshore wind energy to make the transition from a concept to an
generating significant volumes of wind energy offshore, this industry, with Europe as the global sector leader, government and
development could be accelerated as part of an effort by Europe’s industry have to continue working together to make sure any current
politicians to deal with the global recession and diminishing supplies and future barriers to this success are removed.
of expensive, imported energy and tackle global warming caused by
burning fossil fuels. Offshore wind is one of Europe’s most significant Achieving 40GW of electricity  offshore by 2020 would require the
untapped energy sources, offering clean, indigenous, greenhouse- installation of on average almost 4,000MW of new capacity every year
gas-free power at predictable prices. It offers employment, economic for the next decade, which highlights the scale of the challenge ahead.
stability and a technological leadership position for Europe. The Developing this additional capacity requires the  manufacture  and
sector is facing considerable challenges, but with the right political installation of 10,000 wind turbines and substructures (see Figures
initiative these can be overcome to allow the full power of the 1–5). In addition to the turbines themselves, adequate infrastructure –
offshore winds to be realised. ports and harbours, installation vessels and cables – must also be built
and developed. At least 200,000 people need to be trained by 2020 to
The importance of the offshore wind sector is already being recognised provide the labour force needed.
by the EU, which is committed to a binding target of 20% renewable
energy by 2020. At least 34% of EU electricity would come from Perhaps the biggest obstacle is Europe’s antiquated and
renewables, with wind power contributing 12%, according to the administratively heavy grid system. What is now needed is a
European Commission (EC). Last year the EC also declared the blueprint transnational offshore grid that will provide grid access to remote
for a North Sea offshore power grid to be built in 2010. Earlier in 2009 offshore wind farm sites and additional interconnection capacity to
improve the trade of electricity between the differing national€565 million was earmarked for offshore wind projects as part of the
EC’s economic recovery plan. electricity markets that currently exist.
The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) announced new The recent TradeWind project, which investigated grid upgrade
targets in March for total installed European wind capacity by 2020 possibilities for increasing the amount of wind in the system, found
that predicted 230GW would be produced annually. This would meet that the benefits of transmission upgrades justify significant
between 14 and 18% of EU electricity demand (depending on total EU investments in transmission infrastructure. Its proposed investments
demand 11 years from now). EWEA’s new target for offshore wind are  in the order of €500 million for each of the 42 infrastructure
is 40GW by 2020. Statistics compiled by EWEA show that 8,484MW of projects it proposed for completion by 2020 and 2030.
wind power – more than any other electricity-generating technology –
was installed in the EU in 2008. In total, 64,935MW of installed wind In order to plan the new grids and offshore wind farms effectively, marine
energy capacity was operating in the EU by the end of the year – 15% spatial planning instruments must be used to enable the planning of
higher than in 2007. In terms of offshore wind energy, 366MW of investments over time at project level, but also throughout the whole
capacity was added in 2008, to reach a total of 1,471MW. Nearly 2.3% supply chain. Spatial planning also lowers the risks, and therefore
of total installed EU capacity is now offshore. According to EWEA increases investor confidence, as one of the key unanswered questions at
predictions, the total installed wind capacity offshore in Europe will the moment is where the finance for future developments will come from.
climb to 40GW by 2020 and to 150GW a decade later. However, in
Offshore wind also offers tremendous potential with regard to
mitigating climate change. The proposed London Array wind farm,
Bruce Douglas is Chief Operating Officer of the
European Wind Energy Association (EWEA). His main
located about 20km off the coasts of Kent and Essex in the outer
role is to co-ordinate all EWEA activities and implement Thames Estuary, provides a good example of the value of offshore wind
agreed strategies in order to effectively promote the
in tackling global warming. Upon completion, the London Array is
best interests of the wind sector in Europe and
worldwide. He sits on the board of the Global Wind
expected to generate up to 1,000MW of electricity. This is enough to
Energy Council (GWEC) and on the advisory committee
power 750,000 homes, one-quarter of Greater London, and annually
of numerous international wind and renewable energy
events. He has a degree in industrial design and a
displace the emission of 1.9 million tonnes of CO
2
.
masters in renewable energy systems.
E: communication@ewea.org
The offshore wind sector needs a dedicated legislative framework to
ensure it gets the support it needs. The EC’s communication on
© TOUCH BRIEFINGS 2009
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