News Archive February 2023

Amazon's renewable energy portfolio now totals more than 20 GW and will generate enough clean energy to power 5.3 million homes in the U.S. Its renewable energy purchases last year brought it closer to powering its operations with 100% renewable energy by 2025.

As a result, the WindEagle solution is now being deployed on NTR’s wind farms in Ireland, UK, Italy, Sweden and Finland, with a view to monitoring and optimising the entire fleet.

Corio joins GWO to promote best practice in safety training

Corio Generation joins safety training body GWO as leading member

Europe had 254 hydrogen stations at year end, 105 of which are in Germany. France is still second in Europe with 44 operating stations, followed by the UK und the Netherlands with 17 each, and Switzerland with 14 stations.

The Gulf of Lion in the Mediterranean will host several pilot and commercial floating wind farms in the coming years. It is therefore crucial for project developers to accurately characterise the wind resource as well as the turbulence, which corresponds to unpredictable and rapid variations in speed and direction.

PNE and OMNIA sign MoU for the production of green hydrogen and ammonia in South Africa

This new ammonia production will be powered by renewable energy from hybrid sources.

The developers will work in collaboration with the Carbon Trust as part of the new Offshore Wind Sustainability Joint Industry Programme to develop the first industry-backed methodology and guidance to measure and address the carbon emissions associated with offshore wind farms throughout their lifecycle, including emissions from the manufacturing of materials and installation of wind farms.

While the time for the decisive tipping point in climate change is getting frighteningly closer, the global community is trying to take action against it with various measures. The expansion of renewable energies is running faster than ever - but is it enough?

European Commission presents Green Deal Industrial Plan

The Green Deal Industrial Plan will enhance the competitiveness of Europe's net-zero industry and support the fast transition to climate neutrality.

The programme plays a role in unlocking the potential of the seabed to help the UK tackle the challenges of climate change and energy security while supporting a thriving marine environment.

Japan increases wind turbine expansion in 2022

The Japan Wind Power Association (JWPA) reports on the figures for 2022 where Japan's first large offshore wind farm went into operation.

GE Renewable Energy to install 6 MW wind turbines in Spain

GE Renewable Energy has been selected by Repsol to supply 22 units of its 6.1 MW wind turbines to six of the wind farms in its Delta II project in Spain.

Norway has a clear target of reaching net zero by 2050 and has committed to establishing 30 GW of offshore wind power by 2040.

Using a novel floating Rotor-Nacelle Assembly (RNA) installation method, Heerema is installing wind turbines with the blades already pre-assembled on deck, onto the tower fixed on the foundation.

The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) has announced the industry’s year-end data, reporting that Canada’s wind and solar energy sectors grew significantly in 2022.

EIB supports European energy security and green economy with record sum

The European Investment Bank Group signed a record amount in new financing for renewables, efficiency, storage and grids in 2022.

Entering a critical decade for climate action, Ingka Group, through its investment arm Ingka Investments has committed to expanding its investments in renewable energy to EUR 6.5 billion as the next step towards 100% renewable energy across the value chain.

Fully developed, the port will function as a green node and - in addition to construction logistics for the individual wind power projects - will open opportunities for the creation of new business operations, new jobs, an electrical connection to Åland and much more.

Financing secured for eastern Serbia's first wind farm

Krivaca is the first wind farm to be built in Eastern Serbia, covering 56 km2 of the Municipality of Golubac.

Both companies will continue their partnership. The two agreements will secure the majority of the power needed for the existing manufacturing activities and also the additional power required for planned investments by INEOS Inovyn.

New research published today by RenewableUK shows that the UK's offshore wind capacity hits a new record while only two onshore wind turbines have been installed last year.

The trade associations are calling for key steps in the Spring Budget to address this, including a reform of capital allowances, and financial incentives for investment in low carbon energy in response to those being offered by the US in its $216 billion Inflation Reduction Act and the European Union in its REPowerEU package.

Deutsche Windtechnik to supply ADLS to German OWF Butendiek

Preparations to install the ADLS have already begun, but the actual installation of the system is scheduled to take place during the summer months.

Damen presents new FLOW-SV vessel concept

The vessel can load the immense lengths of chain needed to install and secure 9 anchors or suction piles.

Australia needs a transmission grid reform

Re-Alliance looks at the measures needed to make sure the Australian transmission grid is fit for more renewable energy production.

BW Ideol's Floatgen achieves continuous capacity factor of nearly 60%

The Floatgen demonstrator showed a capacity factor of nearly 60% over the last three months and a production of 25GWh since its 2018 commissioning.

The Dogger Bank D proposal would require a new development consent order to progress into construction and could add an additional 1.32 GW in fixed-bottom offshore wind capacity to the 3.6 GW already in construction with phases A, B and C of the project.

YPF Luz to build its fourth wind farm in Argentina

With an investment of more than $260 million, the developer plans to build its fourth wind farm near Córdoba, the country's second largest city.

Is Denmark in breach of EU law?

The Danish Energy Agency has suspended processing of offshore wind and other renewable energy projects under the Open Door programme.

The projects are single wind turbine projects, located in Viotia prefecture, Central Greece and the installation of the wind turbine equipment is expected within 2023.

ACP reshuffles organization

The American Clean Power Association (ACP) has announced its 2023 incoming Board of Directors, as its new CEO Jason Grumet takes the helm of the organization.

wpd hands out early contract extension

Björn Nullmeyer’s management board contract has been extended early, the developer said.

World’s first software portfolio designed for grid orchestration aligns grid management technology end-to-end, enabling more secure, integrated, and flexible grid operations / Only partner ecosystem focused on grid orchestration, pulling together marquee cloud, system integrator, and hyperscaler partners to help utilities develop, deploy and scale best-in-class applications

GlobalData sees surge in hydrogen economy coming

GlobalData’s recent publication highlights deals trends and investments as useful benchmarks to identify those leading companies driving the hydrogen market growth.

With this contract, FORTIA continues promoting a more sustainable industrial and energetic model, while ensuring that its customers have access to renewable energy at stable and competitive prices.

A reshuffle often risks unnecessary delays while the new departments finalise their strategy, and reaching Net Zero must not be held up any longer, the Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA) said.

Turbine blades have previously been challenging to recycle due to the chemical properties of epoxy resin, a resilient substance that was believed to be impossible to break down into re-usable components.

Siemens Gamesa and Doosan Enerbility to cooperate in South Korea

Siemens Gamesa and Doosan Enerbility announced the signing of a binding framework agreement for a strategic partnership for the South Korean offshore wind market.

AkzoNobel grows revenue on increased pricing, despite macro-economic headwinds impacting volumes and results

Akzo Nobel N.V. (AKZA; AKZOY) publishes results for Q4 and full-year 2022

“This decision is completely absurd – especially at a time when the EU is determined to facilitate rather than obstruct the build-out of renewables and is seeking a more flexible approach to what governments can and cannot do in support of this”, says WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson.

In the course of a cabinet reshuffle in the UK, a whole new ministry for the energy sector was launched. The first official act of the new Secretary of State Grant Shapps: distributing money to innovators

Labkotec at Wind Finland Oulu 2023 event

Labkotec’s Head of Business Development Tiina Kuula discussed 2nd February at Wind Finland Oulu 2023 about the topic How to improve safety with ice warning lights.

Qualitas Energy signs PPA for Spanish solar farm

The solar facility has been operational since 2019 and has an installed capacity of 494 MWp, making it one of the largest in Europe

After slowing slightly last year to 2% amid the turmoil of the global energy crisis and exceptional weather conditions in some regions, the growth in world electricity demand is expected to accelerate to an average of 3% over the next three years, the IEA says.

ACP Statement comments State of the Union Address

“Tonight, the President underscored how clean energy is growing our economy, lowering consumer energy costs, and cutting pollution," the ACP said.

Wind Energy accounted for 41% if Ireland's power in January

Irish wind farms had a strong start to the year with a new record for the most electricity ever produced in the month of January.

Van Oord installs final monopile at Hollandse Kust Noord offshore wind farm

The first monopile was installed less than four months ago.

Baltic Power chooses main contractor for offshore wind base

As of 2026, the base will provide service for 76 offshore wind turbines in the Baltic Sea.

It was an opportunity for Breton companies to meet the major contractors Skyborn Renewables, Vattenfall & BlueFloat Energy, two of whom are winners of the Scottish ScotWind tender.

A new GlobalData report states: “The introduction of Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in August 2022, which extended Investment Tax Credit and Production Tax Credit, is a major boost for the renewable power market. The federal and state level targets for offshore wind, along with the technology specific auctions, present a huge opportunity during the forecast period."

Renewable energy expansion surges in the U.S.

Based upon a review by the SUN DAY Campaign of data newly released by the FERC, renewable energy sources provided 74.1% of new utility-scale generating capacity in the U.S. last year.

This change better reflects the company’s commitment to the people, businesses and communities of the SouthCoast, all of whom will benefit from the growing offshore wind industry.

Energy crisis? What energy crisis?

Corporations brush aside the energy crisis by buying a record amount of clean power in 2022.

Germany to buy TenneT?

TenneT explores the potential sale of its German activities to the German State to deliver on their ambitious energy transition targets.

DEME secures two contracts in France

DEME has been awarded two transport and installation contracts for the foundations and the offshore substation for the Yeu and Noirmoutier islands’ offshore wind farm in France.

"At a time when countries like the US and the EU are doubling down on attracting clean energy investment through financial incentives and a stable policy framework, the UK cannot afford to create unnecessary hurdles for investors and developers", RenewableUK said.

European Energy hits capacity milestone

European Energy has reached one gigawatt of renewable production capacity in owned assets.

White Paper discusses feasibility of tow-to-port measures for floating wind turbines

New solutions for onsite maintenance of floating wind turbines are emerging.

U.S. Department of Energy wants to lower costs of large wind turbines

A new funding opportunity seeks to improve the manufacturability and performance of composite materials associated with wind energy technologies.

“We are not reinventing the wheel – relevant parts from existing codes will be reused for building a clear and pragmatic certification scheme, says Dr. Marius Popa, Naval Architect and Project Manager at DNV, abut the project.

According to IRENA’s 1.5°C Scenario, if the world is to completely decarbonise and meet the climate goals set in the Paris Agreement, hydropower installed capacity, including pumped storage hydropower, should more than double by 2050.

Ørsted has announced that it signed a MoU with the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority (IFEZA) to strengthen the cooperation on the green transformation and carbon neutrality of the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ).

According to preliminary figures, the PNE Group now expects EBITDA of between € 34 million and € 36 million for the 2022 financial year; according to the most recently published guidance, the Management Board assumed EBITDA of between € 20 million and €30 million.

After US wind turbine manufacturer GE announced a few days ago that they would build a production facility in New York if they will win the next offshore wind auction, competitor Siemens Gamesa is now following suit.

New Chilean wind farm starts spinning

Repsol Ibereólica Renovables Chile and the Ibereólica Renovables Group have started electricity production at the Atacama wind farm with an installed capacity of 165.3 MW.

Vattenfall submits proposals for Quantans Hill Wind Farm in Scotland

If consented, Quantans Hill Wind Farm could increase Scotland’s renewable energy capacity by around 90MW – enough to power 80,000 homes.

Sif Holding has announced its €328 million Final Investment Decision to construct the world’s largest monopile foundation manufacturing plant in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, with the construction expected to start in April 2023.

GE Renewable Energy to supply turbines to three German onshore wind farms

wpd has chosen GE Renewable Energy for three onshore wind projects in Lower Saxony in the north of Germany.

LCOE rises in Asia Pacific

Equipment, construction costs and interest rates rose in the region bringing trouble for the competitiveness in the Asia Pacific region.

Energia Renewables chooses GE wind turbines for Irish wind farm

Energia Renewables has announced that it is has selected GE Renewable Energy to supply 8 wind turbines to its Drumlins Park wind farm in Ireland.

ABO Wind's first German hybrid energy projects commissioned

The hybrid energy project was built in the immediate vicinity of a wind turbine on land belonging to the municipality of Lahr.

For a long time, Australia's governments have clung to fossil fuels, which are stored in large quantities in the country's soil. Only since Anthony Albanese was elected Prime Minister just under a year ago has Australia made serious efforts to finally become active in the fight against climate change and to push ahead with the energy transition. But now the country is in danger of being left behind.

The global pipeline now stands at 1,174GW across 1,417 projects in 38 countries – an increase of 508GW over the past 12 months. Fully developing that offshore wind capacity could meet 20% of global electricity demand.

Belgian construction company DEME and the Port of Thyboron have signed a contract regarding the installation of foundations for Vattenfall’s Vesterhav Nord and Syd offshore wind farms in Denmark.

With the acquisition of BLIX, AFRY enhances its competence and consulting service offerings in the offshore and onshore wind sector and will be able to cover the entire project life-cycle from the early strategy phase to the execution and operation of the wind farm.

Global LNG competition to increase

Europe’s increased need for liquefied natural gas (LNG) looks set to intensify competition with Asia for limited new supply available over the next two years

Braun Windturbinen installs a small wind turbine in northern Germany

The Antaris 7.5 kW turbine has been installed on a 9.20 m tilt mast in northern Germany.

Japanese ITOCHU invests in U.S. wind market

Development of the Project is underway near Houston in the U.S. state of Texas.

The Port of Cork can be a key enabler of the green energy sector in Ireland by taking advantage of its natural harbour, deep-water channels, deep-water berths, and by reclaiming land to accommodate large project cargoes for the offshore wind and green hydrogen sectors.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has granted, with InvestEU support, a €50 million loan to Asja Ambiente Italia to co-finance the construction of nine photovoltaic and wind power plants in Basilicata, Campania, Sardinia and Sicily.

Re Alloys obtains funding for Polish wind farm

Re Alloys announces the funding for the construction of their first 35 MW wind farm which will be constructed in Dzwola, the Lublin Province, in Poland.

Total Eren, a leading renewable energy Independent Power Producer (“IPP”) based in Paris, is entering Honduras with a first wind project, “San Marcos”, which will be located in San Marcos de Colón in the Choluteca Department. The project is one of the largest foreign investments in a renewable energy project in Central America.

Equinor and EnBW join forces for German offshore wind market

EnBW and Equinor today announce their interest in developing offshore wind together.

OX2 hands over Finnish wind farm to Renewable Power Capital

The construction of the wind farm in the municipality of Mustasaari and city of Vaasa in Finland started in May 2021.

EEW SPC breaks own record

Their heaviest monopile so far has left EEW SPC’s production facility in Germany. It will be shipped to the U.S. to be installed in Vineyard Wind 1.

With the ambition to fast-track the route to market for the floating foundation BRUNEL has appointed Ramboll to initiate the design scope to accelerate the technological maturity of BRUNEL towards commercial application.

World Forum Offshore Wind publishes Global Offshore Wind Report for 2022

Global offshore wind growth in 2022 was again mainly driven by China which installed 6.8 GW of new offshore wind capacity in 2022.

The American Clean Power Association (ACP) has released its Clean Power Quarterly Market Report – Q4 2022, which shows that the U.S. wind, solar, and battery storage sectors installed a total of 9.6 gigawatts of utility-scale clean power capacity last quarter.

As the European energy crisis is primarily a supply crisis and not a demand crisis, this reform of the electricity market needs to be handled with caution, several major energy companies warn.

German repowering project started in Bad Gandersheim

A new wind turbine replaces four old turbines and achieves an efficiency increase of 530 %.

Prysmian Group visits Genera 2023 in Madrid

Prysmian Group will showcase its full range of technologies at Genera 2023, International Energy and Environment Fair taking place in Madrid from February 21 to 23, 2023 (stand 10D17).

Joint venture founded to develop Polish onshore wind

Renewable Power Capital and Tundra Advisory (Taiga Mistral Group) want to develop up to 1GW of onshore wind projects in Poland.

The uncrewed vessel, developed in partnership with SEA-KIT International, is equipped with Fugro’s Blue Volta® eROV and an array of geophysical equipment to undertake subsea inspection and site characterisation surveys.

Portugal may very well achieve its updated renewable energy target given the successful track record over the last two decades, but the country needs more energy storage facilities

ACCIONA and Sofidel sign 10-year PPA

The long-term contract will allow Sofidel to guarantee an electricity supply at a competitive and stable price, avoiding the current volatility of the market.

UK risks missing out on clean energy investments

The investment climate for low carbon generation has deteriorated significantly in recent months in the UK.

The UK Government must ensure that the UK doesn’t get overtaken by other countries in the face of intense global competition to attract private investment in vital new clean energy projects.

Russia has been trying to gain information on critical infrastructure in the Dutch part of the North Sea in recent months, according to Dutch military intelligence agency MIVD, which fears acts of sabotage.

ACCIONA Energía and Plug Power have presented to the Government of Navarra their 'Valle H2V Navarra' joint project to build an industrial-scale, green hydrogen production plant in Rocaforte, Sangüesa.

DNV publishes new research on floating offshore wind energy

60% of wind industry professionals believe floating offshore wind will reach full commercialization without subsidies by 2035, DNV found out.

High demand for U.S. offshore wind

Demand for offshore wind in the United States nearly doubled in 2022 and investments in the market tripled, the annual report from the Business Network for Offshore Wind says.

wpd windmanager takes over commercial and technical management of Hessian wind farm

iTerra and IMPAX are enhancing their cooperation with wpd windmanager who will take over the management of a wind farm in Germany.

Landinfra Energy AB and Taaleri Energia have entered into an agreement to jointly develop a pipeline of up to 1900 MW of renewable energy projects in Sweden consisting of hybrid solar/wind farms and energy storage facilities.

Boralex passes global 3 GW-milestone

With the commissioning of a 65 MW wind farm in Britanny, Canadian energy company Boralex passes the milestone of 3 GW of installed capacity worldwide.

United against Putin

Today marks the anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The war in Europe has plunged the entire world into an energy crisis - and has ensured unprecedented speed in the energy transition.

Nervión Naval Offshore to open wind power components facility in Spain

Nervión Naval Offshore expects to have the facilities in operation during the second half of 2023.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced new investments to secure U.S. leadership in floating offshore wind development by advancing offshore wind transmission planning, research and technology, and partnerships.

ACP Applauds First-ever Gulf of Mexico Offshore Wind Lease Sale

Significant step forward for clean energy deployment and job creation

AFRY awarded owner’s engineering services for a new wind farm in Vietnam

LIG-Huong Hoa 1 Joint Stock Company has awarded AFRY an owner’s engineering service assignment for Huong Hoa 1, a large-scale wind farm project in Vietnam.

Construction start for Austalian Wambo Wind Farm announced

Cubico Sustainable Investments and Stanwell Corporation have announced that construction of stage 1 of the 252 MW Wambo Wind Farm in Queensland will start this year.

“For the energy transition to improve lives and livelihoods, governments and development partners need to ensure a more equitable flow of finance, by recognising the different contexts and needs,” says IRENA Director-General, Francesco La Camera.

Global hydrogen pipeline slowed through 2022

The announcements of new hydrogen projects slowed through the year as developers shifted their focus to de-risking the existing project pipeline", says analyst Wood Mackenzie.

Galileo and Hope Group have announed the launch of Barium Bay, their new joint venture dedicated to the development of a floating offshore wind farm in Italy’s Adriatic Sea.

ESB and Rosslare Europort have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate on the organisations’ respective development plans to support offshore wind projects in the Celtic and Irish Seas.

Major infrastructure projects such as new transport links, offshore wind farms and waste water management facilities will be delivered faster under a new action plan.

"The current planning system moves at a glacial pace – it can take four or five years to get approval for an offshore wind farm," said RenewableUK’s Environmental Policy Analyst Juliette Webb.

EU wind supply chain lacks money to invest at required scale to be competitive

Why is the wind supply chain struggling when EU wind targets are ambitious?

Variable renewable energy tenders issued annually in India have fallen from 40 GW in 2019 to about 28 GW in 2022. That's not enough to reach the renewable energy targets of the country.

Europe must get its Electricity Market Design right

In the current market and geopolitical environment, the last thing investors need is a rushed Electricity Market Design reform.

The Luna EN.SURE system combines fiber-optic based Distributed Temperature Sensing Systems and Distributed Acoustic Sensing Systems to monitor temperature and acoustics along the entirety of the project’s cable circuit.

NKT to support construction of first offshore cable factory in Taiwan

The factory will produce high- and medium-voltage AC offshore power cables mainly for the Taiwanese offshore wind market.

SCHOTT signs PPA with Statkraft

Statkraft will supply a total of around 30 GWh of green power coming from a wind farm to German-based SCHOTT for the next two years.

Germany launches 1.8 GW tender for offshore wind energy

The German Federal Network Agency has launched another tender for offshore wind farms. It covers a total of 1,800 MW on four centrally pre-examined areas in the North Sea.

Inch Cape OWF selects Innovair for drone inspection services

Innovair's inspection services will be focused on the construction progress of the project's substation at Cockenzie, East Lothian, which will begin on site shortly.

EnBW and bp are joining the four-month project which will analyse infrastructure, current regulation, supply chains and technology for support vessels of offshore wind farms.

SSE Renewables wants to collaborate with Irish fishing industry

A new report outlines how the offshore wind industry and the Irish fishing industry can positively co-exist in the environment.

Europe built 19 GW of new wind energy capacity in 2022. Despite building 40% more than in 2021, it's still not enough to reach Europe's 2030 climate goals.

Octopus Energy's offshore wind investment reaches $1bn in less than a year

Octopus Energy’s generation arm hits $1bn in offshore wind investments in less than a year, with plans to rapidly scale investments.

Boskalis wins contract for Moray West OWF

Boskalis has secured a multidisciplinary role in the development of the Moray West offshore wind farm in Scotland.

RWE and Northland Power plan to jointly build four wind farms in the German North Sea. Vestas was now selected as the preferred turbine supplier for the Nordseecluster. The Danish company plans to install its 15 MW turbines off the island of Juist from 2026.