Exhibition Ticker - Offshore Wind set for large scale, farshore, deepwater success

Since January, all eyes in the offshore wind industry have been on the UK round 3 projects. Questions such as 'when will the developments take place', 'how will they be constructed', and 'by what means can developers ensure cost effective and timely delivery' are all on the tip of everyone's tongues.

To date, 2.1 GW of offshore wind has been installed in European waters with a further 1.5GW due for completion by the end of 2010. However, achieving the 40-50GW targets for offshore wind power will require a significant increase in developments - at a cost of roughly £550 billion.

Despite the indisputable opportunity this presents, significant challenges stand between the offshore wind industry and its aggressive targets. Projects need to be scaled up, much further from shore and in deeper waters, and in harsher operating environments. Meanwhile, escalating costs will need to be reined in.

Offshore wind developers need to become better prepared:
With these upcoming projects, the offshore wind industry is entering unknown territory with little information to pass on and few lessons to learn from. This presents a high risk of costly mistakes.

Already competing for dominance in the European offshore market are the UK, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Norway, & Belgium and their wind developers, E.ON, Dong and Vattenfall.

In this highly competitive market, now is the time to make decisions regarding requirements for the future to ensure availability throughout the supply chain, quality of staff, bullet proof strategies and project finance security.

Offshore wind industry to meet to discuss critical installation & construction strategies:
With this background over 300 industry leaders will be meeting today at the 2nd Annual Offshore Wind Construction, Installation and Commissioning conference (London, October 20-21st, 2010) hosted by Wind Energy Update to discuss the following:
* Offshore construction: Logistical management and strategic planning
* Ensuring manpower expertise: Recruitment, training and Health and Safety
* Deepwater solutions: Foundation design & technology trends
* Looking to the future: Vessel availability & suitability
* Overcoming the hurdles of subsea cable laying and connection
* Offshore industry update
* CASE STUDIES from the field

Jon Harman from organisers Wind Energy Updated said "The conference has been created specifically to give insight into how to plan and execute reliable and cost effective offshore installation projects in hostile, farshore, deepwater environments."

Harman continues "Attendees will be better prepared to help seize opportunities in the offshore wind industry, fend off growing competition and strengthen market position. Put simply it's an unprecedented opportunity to meet, hear from and do business with international offshore wind experts, key component and equipment suppliers, logistics firms, technology innovators and other offshore experts to tackle the challenges facing the offshore wind industry head on!"

Industry leaders already confirmed to attend include RWE Innogy & OLC, DONG Energy, Mainstream Renewable Power, Vattenfall Wind Power, EDF Energy, EDP Renewables, C-Power, Iberdrola Renewables, London Array Ltd, La Compagnie Du Vent, Scottish Power, GE, Vestas, Gamesa, Mitsubishi, Areva, Siemens among a host of others.

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