News Archive January 2023

Five years of Hywind Scotland, the world's first floating offshore wind farm

With a capacity of 30 MW generated by 5 turbines, Hywind Scotland utilises the Hywind floating spar-substructure concept.

MFW Baltyk II and MFW Baltyk III, located in the Baltic Sea approximately 27 km and 40 km from the port of Leba, are two of the largest and most advanced offshore wind farms being developed in Poland.

Integrated energy hubs have the potential to combine multiple energy systems, including existing oil and gas production assets, carbon storage and hydrogen production facilities.

SeaMar to send guard vessels to Hollandse Kust Noord Wind Farm Project

SeaMar has been contracted by Van Oord to deploy guard vessels on the Offshore Wind Farm Hollandse Kust Noord project.

In the late summer and early autumn of 2022, Vattenfall successfully conducted large scale seabed surveys with uncrewed surface vessels. The surveys were conducted at several of Vattenfall’s offshore wind farms in Denmark, Sweden and the UK.

EDF Renewables North America sells five onshore wind farms to Boralex

EDF Renewables put into service all five projects totaling 894 MW with commissioning dates between 2014 and 2015.

GE Announces Additions to GE Vernova Leadership Team

GE has announced that GE Vernova, the company’s portfolio of energy businesses, has appointed three new roles to its leadership team late last year.

Vestas with year-end orders surge

Danish turbine manufacturer Vestas reports strong end of year orders with an output of 1551 megawatts.

Iberdrola is progressing according to plan in the construction project in the waters off Brittany in France for the Saint-Brieuc offshore wind farm.

New Chairman for TÜV Süd AG

Dr Johannes Bussmann (53) has been appointed the new Chairman of the Board of Management of TÜV SÜD AG with effect from 1 January 2023.

UK hits new wind energy generation record late last year

A new wind energy generation record has been set on Friday 30th December, 2022.

Commenting on the poll’s findings, Rod Wood, Managing Director of Community Windpower, said: “This poll confirms what we suspected all along, namely that there is significant public disquiet over the controversial Energy Generator Levy and its smash and grab raid on renewables."

Empire Offshore Wind has awarded a contract to DEME Offshore US for the transportation and installation of inter-array cables for the Empire Wind 1 and 2 offshore wind farms.

The Finnish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has granted Ilmatar Offshore a research permit for two areas in Finland’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The areas cover approximately 700 square kilometers in total.

Scottish renewables generation up 55% year-on-year

Renewable energy projects like wind and solar farms, hydropower and tidal energy are contributing more and more to Scotland’s economy as well cutting energy costs for consumers.

“Implementing this must become this Government’s top priority if it is serious about tackling the climate emergency and making Ireland energy independent," said Noel Cunniffe, CEO of Wind Energy Ireland.

European Energy connects Brazilian wind farm to the grid

European Energy has connected the wind farm Ouro Branco I to the grid in the state of Pernambuco in the northeastern region of Brazil.

Germany sees significant increase in net electricity generation from wind and solar

The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE has presented its annual evaluation of electricity generation in Germany in 2022.

The wind farm is projected to comprise 1.5GW renewable energy which will supply power to H2Carrier’s floating production vessel for hydrogen and green ammonia, the so-called P2XFloater™.

The partners aim to replace coal fired power plants with hydrogen-ready gas fired power plants in Germany, and to build production of low carbon and renewable hydrogen in Norway that will be exported through pipeline to Germany.

Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc. (HASI), a leading investor in climate solutions, today announced the close of two new programmatic investments in grid-connected renewable energy assets developed, owned and operated by The AES Corporation, a Fortune 500 global energy company and one of the largest developers and operators of clean power in the United States, with a 51-gigawatt development pipeline in the U.S.

Keppel wins contract for offshore substation

When completed, the OSS will be deployed in an offshore wind site in the Asia Pacific region.

REA welcomes Labour's renewable energy statements

The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA) has welcomed a statement by Keir Starmer, Leader of the Labour Party.

RTE international has been entrusted with the modelling and simulation requirements and the specifications to de-risk the Multi-Vendor Multi-Terminal HVDC functionalities for the Bornholm Energy Island project.

Nel to deliver electrolysers to Statkraft

The announcement was made in connection with the German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck’s visit to Nel’s fully automated electrolyser manufacturing facility at Herøya in Norway.

Enefit Green raises debt capital

Enefit Green will use the new loans to build wind farms in Estonia, Lithuania, and Finland, as well as a solar park in Estonia.

France needs to up its renewable energy game

On 10 January France’s National Assembly is set to vote on a bill intended to accelerate the development of renewable energy projects.

Finnish offshore wind farm extension proceeds to permitting phase

Suomen Hyötytuuli’s Tahkoluoto offshore wind farm is Finland’s first offshore wind farm and also the world’s first offshore wind farm in frozen sea conditions.

Planned Estonian offshore wind farm receives environmental impact assessment (EIA) approval

Utilitas Wind now plans to move forward with the development of the Saare-Liivi offshore wind farm fast.

Study: bats don't like wind turbines

Researchers from the Universities of Turku and Helsinki in Finland investigated the impact of wind turbines on bat presence and activity in boreal forests.

Chinese company cracks 18 MW mark

Chinese company CSSC Haizhuang Wind Power has unveiled the nacelle of the new prototype of the world's largest offshore wind turbine, the H260-18MW.

The American Clean Power Association today issued a statement in response to the White House Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) release of new guidance aimed at helping federal agencies better assess and disclose climate impacts as they conduct environmental reviews:

TPI and GE extend partnership for rotor blades

TPI Composites announced last week that it has extended its supply agreements with GE Renewable Energy through 2025 for rotor blades.

In the fourth quarter of 2022, PNE AG commissioned two further wind farms in Lower Saxony. PNE's own portfolio of wind farms under its own operation thus grows from around 283 MW to around 319 MW of capacity.

Wind and solar production in Spain breaks records in 2022

Spain continues to demonstrate its renewable energy potential.

Odfjell Oceanwind, and partner Source Galileo, will participate in the competition for seabed lease for floating offshore wind on Utsira Nord west of Haugesund in Norway.

RWE finishes first German megabattery

RWE succeeded in building a battery system with a total capacity of 117 megawatts (128 megawatt hours / MWh) in Germany in 14 months.

Hydro and World Wind Wind are partnering up to develop floating wind turbines with a design specifically meant for offshore conditions using aluminium.

If you are developing utility scale battery energy storage, you must deal with the hazards associated with battery system failure whilst maintaining and protecting the system. Roxtec provides help.

Hitachi Energy will provide an AC grid connection and power quality solution for their jointly owned MFW Baltyk II and MFW Baltyk III offshore wind farms in the Polish Baltic Sea.

Prysmian Group launches Global Sustainability Academy

Prysmian Group launches the Global Sustainability Academy involving 29,000 employees in over 50 countries.

Hydrogen technology development is shifting towards low-emissions solutions such as electrolysis, according to a joint study of patents by the European Patent Office (EPO) and the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Greentown Labs and Vineyard Wind are seeking submissions from startups that are innovating solutions for offshore turbine monitoring and ecological data collection, as well as digital solutions to improve turbine efficiency and longevity.

Even though the effects of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) have not yet been fully felt, initial developments from the previous year give some hope that the U.S. has finally embarked on an effective path against climate change. However, the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement remain a long way off.

Europe's wind installations rose in 2022

The EU installed 15 gigawatts (GW) of new wind farms in 2022. That’s one third more than 2021, despite all challenges.

Qualitas Energy, a global investment and management platform focused on renewable energy, energy transition, and sustainability investments, announces the partnership of its German subsidiary, Qualitas Energy Deutschland GmbH, with SURPLUS Equity Partners to build a 200 MW wind energy portfolio in Germany.

UK sets first new wind record of the year

More than half the power of the UK came from wind energy on Tuesday evening.

On January 9, 2023, the Ministry of Infrastructure announced the results of the procedure regarding the location permit for the offshore wind farms for the area 43.E.1. PGE Baltica received the most points in the procedure.

Ledyard Windpower project starts operating

Duke Energy begins operating its 207-MW Ledyard Windpower, its first wind project in Iowa.

New research could cut the cost of offshore wind farm fabrication 

New research, investigating single-sided welding for offshore wind foundations, could cut the cost of wind turbine fabrication. 

Siemens Gamesa to supply Thor Offshore Wind Farm in Denmark

Denmark’s largest offshore wind power plant to date moves ahead and will be equipped with Siemens Gamesa turbines, developer RWE said.

Eneco charters Windcat vessel for its offshore wind farms

Windcat and Eneco are pleased to announce that a 5 year charter and partnership have been agreed.

ERG starts operations of Creag Riabhach wind farm in Scotland

ERG has managed the design and construction operations of the wind farm, with a total installed capacity of 92.4 MW.

Study suggests Romanian-Bulgarian energy island in the Black Sea

The island would help both countries reduce their dependence on fossil fuel imports, a new study by EPG says.

The energy world is at the dawn of a new industrial age – the age of clean energy technology manufacturing – that is creating major new markets and millions of jobs but also raising new risks, prompting countries across the globe to devise industrial strategies to secure their place in the new global energy economy, according to a major new IEA report.

BNEF Energy storage trends in 2023

BloombergNEF reflects on the Top Ten Trends for energy storage in the coming year.

The Department of the Interior today announced that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will publish a proposed rule to update regulations for clean energy development on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).

The American offshore wind industry closed 2022 strong despite impending challenges and economic uncertainty, according to the U.S. Offshore Wind Quarterly Market Report released today by the Business Network for Offshore Wind.

The solar energy plant set up next to the Mosteiro wind park sees the creation of the first EDPR hybrid solar/wind energy project, maximising its clean energy production.

Providing 100 percent renewable energy on an hourly basis can be achieved at cost-competitive rates, while reducing emissions and providing wider benefits to the electric grid, according to an advanced new 24/7 renewable energy modeling tool and analysis developed by Peninsula Clean Energy.

After CSSC Haizhuang Wind Power, a second wind turbine manufacturer from China, Mingyang Smart Energy, has introduced a new offshore wind turbine with more than 18 MW.

New tool shows locations for clean energy projects

The Geospatial Energy Mapper (GEM) is a comprehensive, interactive online mapping tool that can help identify areas across the country that are suitable for wind, solar and more.

Allseas to provide logistics for Norfolk Boreas wind farm

Allseas has secured additional transport and installation (T&I) work for Vattenfall's Norfolk Boreas wind farm in the UK.

Fred. Olsen Renewables is proposing to repower the earliest phase of Windy Standard Wind Farm, located 8km Northeast of Carsphairn and 10km south of New Cumnock.

Scottish Government publishes strategy for energy transition

A route map to secure Scotland’s fastest possible fair and just transition away from fossil fuels has been published.

SSE Renewables and APG to jointly bid in Dutch Offshore Wind Tenders

SSE Renewables and APG aim for development of a large-scale offshore wind energy project in the Dutch North Sea.

Broadwind receives wind tower order from global wind turbine manufacturer

The two-year order secures approximately 50% of optimal tower production capacity across Broadwind’s facilities in 2023 and 2024.

The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA) welcomes the publication of Scotland’s intentions to meet the existing target of reaching Net Zero by 2045, five years ahead of UK Government target.

Ørsted has applied for permission to build four more offshore wind farms in Sweden, which would bring the company's portfolio in the country to 18 GW. If fully developed, the new offshore wind farms will produce enough fossil-free electricity to meet more than half of Sweden's total electricity consumption.

Germany: less than 8 years to install around 22 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity

Today, the expansion figures for offshore wind energy 2022 were presented by the German offshore wind industry.

Boskalis wins large offshore contract in the U.S.

Boskalis has received the contract to construct a large offshore wind farm off the United States coastline. It marks the company's 100th wind farm project.

Finland increases wind power production by 41% in 2022

“The strong growth of Finnish wind power production comes exactly at the moment when it is most needed,” says Anni Mikkonen, CEO of the Finnish Wind Power Association.

Aerones secures $30M in funding

The Latvia-based company offers robot-enabled wind turbine maintenance and inspection.

Statkraft and CIP to develop offshore wind in Ireland

The scope of the partnership includes the three phases of the North Irish Sea Array, or NISA, and the Bore Array - 2.2GW of offshore wind.

Noel Cunniffe, CEO of Wind Energy Ireland, said: “Our members can be extremely proud of the role Irish wind farms are playing in the middle of an energy crisis driven by our dependence on imported fossil fuels."

Siemens Gamesa publishes White Paper on key barriers facing the U.S. wind market

Siemens Gamesa has identified key steps that policymakers in the U.S. should prioritize in order to build on the policy framework now in place.

ABO Wind to start first green hydrogen project

For the first time, ABO Wind will combine a wind farm with the production and use of green hydrogen.

German Arcadis Ost 1 OWF produces first power

The first Arcadis Ost 1 turbines have been successfully energized, and are now producing energy in the Baltic Sea.

Ahead of the public consultation, Spain has issued a non-paper setting out its own proposals for electricity market rules. But the country’s proposals seem excessively focused on applying Contracts-for-Difference (CfDs) for both new and existing infra-marginal power generation assets.

ESVAGT wins first major offshore wind contract in the U.S.

ESVAGT’s US joint venture, CREST, co-owned with Crowley, has signed its first contract in the North American offshore wind market.

For WindplanBlauw, Vos Prodect is responsible for supplying all Cable Hang-Off systems for offshore installation. In addition, it will also supply its Onshore Landing Clamps, better known under the name Beach Clamp.

Proxima Solutions offers a suite of artificial intelligence-based (AI) asset management software tools that enable renewable energy asset owners and managers to optimize operations, assess plant performance and maximize energy production.

Bone of contention in Davos

Opinions are divided on the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act. While head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Fatih Birol praised the IRA to the skies, the European states are less happy.

The acquisition of SCADA International by funds advised by Magnesium Capital LLP ("Magnesium") and Morgan Stanley Investment Management, announced on April 7, 2022, was completed on January 5, 2023, following regulatory approval of the transaction. The

As Ocean Wind 1 continues its planning and development, Ørsted will ensure the project delivers affordable energy to New Jersey, while providing economic opportunity across the state and region. PSEG will support onshore infrastructure construction.

The Business Network for Offshore Wind applauds the announcement by the U.S. Department of the Interior that delineates regulatory oversight governing offshore wind development between the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE.)

The project area is located in the Baltic Sea outside the west coast of Latvia and the wind farm will have potential to generate 4,5 TWh renewable electricity per year.

“Texas might be the home of the oil and gas industry, but it is fast becoming the leading state to buy clean energy to power business activity,” says JC Sandberg, Interim CEO and Chief Advocacy Officer.

The year begins in Lower Saxony with the erection of the Antaris 7.5kW on a 12m tipping mast, This means that this is a traversing-free BV with a total height of up to 15m.

The Government has proposed a minimum 500 metres distance between wind turbines and housing. This is in line with the rules in other European countries. The Polish Parliament must stick with it, says WindEurope.

International collaboration between European countries is the key to deal with future electricity needs. The project “Enabling interoperability of multi-vendor HVDC grids” (InterOPERA) unites more than 20 European partners to make future HVDC systems mutually compatible and interoperable by design, and to improve the grid forming capabilities of offshore and onshore converters.

Three of the six projects are located off the North Wales, Cumbria and Lancashire coast, and three are located in the North Sea off the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire coast.

Wood Mackenzie: IRA set to "reshape US renewables supply chain"

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) will significantly boost annual investment into renewable energy deployment in the U.S.

Nucor introduces first sustainable steel for offshore wind

Elcyon is a clean, advanced steel product made using Nucor's recycled scrap-based electric arc furnace manufacturing process.

Share of renewables drops in the EU in 2022

Looking at the EU target currently set for 2030 of 32%, the 21.8% share registered for 2021 is still well below the target.

Terna grants permit for six floating offshore wind projects

Hexicon granted permits to connect 7,100 MW of floating wind to the national grid in Italy.

Schaeffler signs PPA for wind power in Germany

Automotive and industrial supplier Schaeffler will purchase electricity from wind turbines in the long term from Statkraft Markets.

TPI to create Digital Twin of the Wind Blade Manufacturing Process

The project leveraged machine learning (ML) using big data to serve as the digital twin of the blade manufacturing process.

50Hertz to build power-to-heat unit in Germany

50Hertz and Stadtwerke Halle are collaborating to build a power-to-heat plant for efficient conversion of electricity into heat.

GRI Renewable Industries (GRI) and the Polish Industrial Development Agency (ARP) have formed a joint venture to build a new offshore wind tower factory in the Polish city of Gdansk.

In the current crisis of high and volatile electricity prices, the economic burden has been pushed on to final consumers. A reform of the electricity market design is therefore needed to better shield households and businesses from high energy prices.

Roxtec and Saitec continue collaboration

Saitec Offshore Technologies in Bilbao, Spain, has specified Roxtec cable seals for their innovative SATH floating wind turbine concept.

In the latest benchmark review, the company has been recognized in eight countries – Brazil, China, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, the UK and the US – all of them repeat certifications.

Air Liquide and Sasol have signed two PPAs with Enel Green Power

Within the framework of these agreements with Air Liquide and Sasol, two local majority owned wind projects will be created by Enel Green Power.

Cadeler has awarded Semco Maritime a contract for vessel modifications as part of an upgrade of the main crane capacity on Cadeler’s two O-class windfarm installation vessels.

US road map for creating offshore wind supply chain published

This report describes how the United States could develop a fully domestic offshore wind energy supply chain.

GE posts Q4 results

Improved earnings and cash at Power with orders up double digits in the fourth quarter while Renewable Energy organic orders increased high single digits and Grid achieved profitability.

SSE Renewables is committed to ensuring all its operations are built on a framework that understands, acknowledges and seeks to address the fisheries sector’s concerns and viewpoints and allows fishers to comment on development activities.

Aneo acquires two Swedish wind farms

Norwegian renewable energy company Aneo acquires two wind farms in Sweden from investment fund Marguerite. It's their first investment outside of Norway.

Europe remains on the move. After the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine overturned many of the self-evident features of Europe's energy supply of recent years, Europe had to reposition itself. Germany, in particular, which was on the drip of Russian oil and gas imports, had to start looking for alternatives.

Climate Change Minister Julie James said: "Our previous targets signalled our high ambitions for renewable energy and this Government’s desire to move away from a use of, and reliance on, fossil fuels. However, the climate crisis shows that we cannot afford to rest on our laurels. Providing new targets compels us to stride towards Net Zero as quickly as we realistically can."

Enel Green Power signs PPA in South Africa

Enel Green Power will provide renewable energy from two wind farms to Air Liquide.

The shareholders of Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy have approved the delisting of the company from Spanish Stock Exchanges at an Extraordinary General Meeting.

Report: collaborative offshore wind transmission planning needed in the U.S.

Urgent planning of building the necessary transmission grid is needed for the U.S. offshore wind industry to thrive.

AkzoNobel celebrates renewable energy milestone in North America

All of AkzoNobel’s locations in North America are now operating on 100% renewable electricity

EU Critical Raw Materials Act must strengthen wind and steel sectors

Europe needs to make sure where its critical raw material supplies come from.

2022 energy transition investment surges past $1 trillion

Global investment in the low-carbon energy transition totaled $1.1 trillion in 2022 to draw level with fossil fuels.

SeaTwirl allowed to proceed with planning its prototype

The Norwegian authority Norges Vassdrags- og Energidirektorat (NVE) have rejected an appeal to overturn SeaTwirl’s S2x concession in Norway.

In his new role, Christian Zeidlhack is in charge of the Industrial division’s direct-customer and sales-partner business for the whole of Europe as well as all the company’s operations in Central and Eastern Europe.

Poland's ruling party has weakened a bill to relax some of Europe's strictest distance regulations for wind farm development. This will deter investors, fears the Polish Wind Energy Association (PSEW).

GE announced today that it has submitted a plan to construct two new manufacturing facilities in New York if it wins a sufficient volume of orders from customers in the State’s ongoing solicitation for up to 4.6 GW of offshore wind.

Shell to reduce size of Executive Committee

Shell wants "to simplify the organisation further".

OX2 to develop Finnish offshore wind farm

OX2 has taken further steps for the development of the offshore wind farm Tyrsky in the Gulf of Bothnia in the Finnish economic zone.

The initiative strengthens Australian-German collaboration to reduce the cost of green hydrogen production and supports cutting-edge technology in the industry.

RenewableUK: UK needs clear plan to grow green economy

Responding to the Chancellor’s commitment to grow the UK’s green economy in his keynote speech this morning, RenewableUK names the steps ahead.

Ocean Winds selects Sarens PSG as monopiles supplier

The monopiles will be the largest and heaviest XXL monopiles ever handled in the UK with weights close to 2,000 tonnes.

WindFloat Atlantic is exceeding the production expectations set for this project and considering that it will be in operation for the next 25 years, the positive impact of WindFloat Atlantic will never stop increasing.

Correll Group selected as cable contractor for French OWF

Correll will deliver works on both the wind turbines and the offshore substation at the Saint-Brieuc Offshore Wind Farm in French waters.

Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) has advised Marguerite One Sàrl (“Marguerite”) on the sale of the 88.8 MW Marguerite Wind Celsius GmbH (“Marguerite Wind”) portfolio, which holds shares in the Grimsås and Brännliden wind farms in Sweden to Aneo Production Holding AS (“Aneo”).

The terminal will help developers work during both the construction and operations and maintenance phases of the different projects of planned offshore wind farms in the region.

KENC receives contract for design and build of lifting frame for US offshore wind projects

KENC Engineering B.V. has received a contract from an undisclosed party to design and build a Hammer Quick Lifting Frame.

Neoen signs VPPA for Swedish wind farm

Energy producer Neoen has signed a 10-year PPA with Coveris for the 57.4 MW Storbrännkullen wind farm in Sweden for over 60% of the green energy to be produced there.

Natural Power to work as owner’s engineer for Statkraft Ireland

Natural Power, has commenced service delivery on the 56MW Cushaling Wind Farm in counties Offaly and Kildare, Ireland.

“It has been a pleasure developing this partnership with Enfinity Global. This important deal, representing one of the biggest PPA transactions in the country, confirms Statkraft’s positioning as a key player in power purchase agreements markets and the strategic role the company has in facilitating the renewable energy transition” says Gennaro Mathieu D'Annucci, Head of Origination Italy and France at Statkraft.

French Energiequelle subsidiary commissions new 18 MW wind farm

The wind farm is located in northwestern France, on the Côtes d’Armor in Brittany.

Prysmian Group announces the successful completion of the cable laying and burial operations for the submarine power interconnection between Ibiza and Formentera.

bp publishes Energy Outlook 2023

The three main scenarios considered in the Outlook have been updated to take account for the Russia-Ukraine war and the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act in the US last year.