The potential for generating power from offshore wind energy is enormous. This is increasingly a growth sector for more and more companies – not only in the wind industry. At the same time, it poses great challenges. The tough conditions on the open sea make severe demands on material and installation, so manufacturers and component suppliers constantly need to improve their products and facilities. And industry and government have to work out practicable solutions for grid connection and routing of power lines. The building and maintenance of wind farms is increasingly dependent on the know-how of the maritime industry. For example, the shipyards which build vessels for installation and maintenance at sea, or specialise in production of steel towers. There is great demand for exchange of experience, across the boundaries of industries and countries. The SMM Offshore Dialogue on 6 September 2012 provides a high-quality forum for this, with more than 500 offshore experts expected in Hamburg. It will be held on the third day of SMM, the world’s leading maritime industry fair (4 to 7 September 2012), at the Hamburg Fair site, with wind energy as one of its focal points. WindEnergy Hamburg is entirely dedicated to this promising future growth market; from 2014 onwards, it gives a new platform to all the companies in the entire value chain. This global industry event will be held in Europe’s wind industry capital, directly after SMM 2014.
“The exhibitors at both these events can expect substantial synergies from additional business opportunities, and opportunities for in-depth exchanges,” says Peter Bergleiter, Project Director SMM. The classic wind energy companies will benefit from the expertise of the shipbuilding and marine equipment industry – and vice versa.” Many of the exhibitors at the shipbuilding fair have also registered for the new wind industry fair in two years’ time, including companies like Palfinger, DSME Daewoo and Leitwind. WindEnergy Hamburg will feature leading wind companies such as Siemens Wind Power, REpower Systems, Nordex, GE Energy, Winergy, Gamesa, Alstom and DONG Energy, and key players in the component supply industry such as ZF and Bosch Rexroth.
Offshore potentials in Europe
Europe, and especially the UK, is taking a leading role in offshore wind energy. According to EWEA (European Wind Energy Association), wind turbines with total output between 20,000 and 40,000 MW will be installed offshore in Europe by 2020. At the end of 2011 there were 1,371 wind turbines with total output 3.8 GW. Another 18 projects are currently in progress, increasing capacity to 9 GW. Approvals for a further 18 GW have been issued, in 12 European countries. According to the Wind Energy Report by Fraunhofer IWES, there are a total of 62 offshore wind farms in operation at the present time.
Presentations on topical issues of the industry
In view of this potential, the programme of the SMM Offshore Dialogue on 6 September 2012 meets with the greatest interest. The emerging wind energy market will be at the focus of the workshop in the afternoon. Germany has particularly ambitious energy policy goals for expansion of offshore wind energy, and its industry has a number of challenges to master. “The offshore wind energy market gives outstanding growth potential for German industry. Leading maritime know-how and a top technological position give an excellent mix for realisation of the offshore wind energy market with German value added,” says Thorsten Herdan, Managing Director of VDMA Power Systems and Vice President of the German Offshore Wind Energy Foundation. “Once the legislation on liability regulation and timely grid connection, as announced by Federal Ministers Rösler and Altmaier, has come into effect, that will give the German offshore wind industry a sound basis to move forward.” Thorsten Herdan is Session Chairman of the Offshore Wind Dialogue.
Apart from the political framework conditions, the offshore wind industry continues to be characterised by trail blazing work. The challenges of installation and construction of wind farms at sea will be addressed by Hans Kahle, CEO of RWE Innogy Offshore Logistic, the company responsible for logistical implementation of RWE Innogy’s offshore wind projects. RWE Innogy Offshore Logistic also operates a port facility in Bremerhaven and deploys two specially designed installation vessels.
A presentation on “Operating and maintenance” will be given by Dr. Felix Ferlemann, CEO of Siemens Wind Power Division in Hamburg. Siemens is expecting installed offshore wind power output to increase to more than 80 GW in Europe alone by 2030. That is equivalent to the output of more than half the power station fleet now on stream in Germany; Siemens indicates that only 6% of these 80 GW are currently operational. Financing will then be addressed by Felix Pahl of DONG Energy Renewables Germany. DONG Energy, one of Northern Europe’s leading energy groups, is setting up the North Sea wind farms Borkum Riffgrund 1 and 2 and operates a number of offshore wind farms in Denmark and the UK.
A panel discussion will be held on the potentials and synergies of the maritime industry and wind energy sectors, enabling speakers and experts from other companies to find joint solutions for present and future challenges of the industry.
A special offshore technology show held by the Offshore Wind Energy Foundation at SMM will present the future of power generating at sea.
WindEnergy Hamburg 2014
WindEnergy Hamburg, The global on- and offshore expo, will be held at the Hamburg Fair site from 23 to 26 September 2014. This new meeting point for the industry is totally dedicated to the core issues, key markets and current subjects of the international wind industry. For more information, please visit the website www.windenergyhamburg.com. For information on SMM, the leading maritime industry trade fair: www.smm-hamburg.com
