OFFSHORE EUROPEAN WIND

NewEnergyNews is available to cover the conference if anybody wants to pick up travel and expenses.

Get A Closer Look At Offshore Wind
October 2007 (European Wind Energy Association)

WHO
The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) (Christian Kjaer, CEO), Offshore Wind Industry Advisory Group (OWIG) (Gordon Edge, Chair)

click to enlarge

WHAT
EWEA is holding a major conference and exhibition on offshore wind energy installations. The agenda suggests it will be amazingly informative.

WHEN
- The first offshore wind farm has been operational since 1991.
- 2006: 18 projects, 5 countries, 900 megawatts.
- For 2015: 8 countries, 15 gigawatts. By 2020, the potential for 40 gigawatts exists.

WHERE
- The first offshore wind farm was off the Danish coast at Vindeby.
- Sweden, UK, Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Belgium, Spain and France are especially active in offshore development.

WHY
- Though offshore installations are only 1.8% of installed wind capacity, they generate 3.3% of wind-generated electricity, demonstrating the higher productivity of offshore winds.
- Cutting edge information on government policy, science/technology and business/industry factors will be reported.
- EWEA’s OWIG will report its conclusions during the conference, the result of input from component suppliers and manufacturers, developers, contractors, utilities, service providers, national associations and research organizations.
- Sponsors include the biggest players in the European wind marketplace.
- European utilities will have a major presence.

European offshore wind appears to be a growth industry. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- Kjaer, EWEA: “There are brief windows of time in history during which the opportunity exists to make important changes in public and private decision-making to have a long term positive impact on energy, the environment and the economy. The European Offshore wind Conference is perfectly timed to take advantage of the strategic conditions that now exist, determine the shape of this new industry and position offshore wind as a substantial source of clean and indigenous energy in Europe.”
- Klaus Rave, German wind giant FGW: “Offshore wind can bring a new dimension to the European energy market. The establishment of grid extensions and increased interconnection are prerequisites and milestones toward a truly common electricity market. Offshore wind energy facilitates these actions and also offers one of the most outstanding investment opportunities in Europe.”