Wind Energy offshore Conference Britannia, rule the waves ables. At the conference in Hamburg, Business Devel­ opment Director Allan McAskill outlined the “offshore technology challenge” that needs to be overcome. Ac­ cording to him, the British government is continuing to keep up the pace and, following the first two bid­ ding processes (Round 1 and 2, totalling almost 9 GW), has now launched Round 3 in order to develop vast sea areas beyond the 12 nautical mile zone. The selected nine projects are intended to supply anoth­ er 25.5 GW of electricity by 2020 (see map on page 138). The government is providing £ 10.4 billion (€ 12.1 billion) alone just for connecting these wind farms to the grid. It is estimated that the overall costs will reach £ 100 billion (€ 116 billion). At 4.5 million €/MW, the specific costs are relatively high, but that is hardly surprising given the distance from the coast and the considerable depth of water (up to 60 m). Because a ‘Scottish Round’ with 6.4 GW is also being planned, this means that the total installed ca­ pacity around the British Isles will add up to 40 GW by 2020. This is far in excess of the capacity planned for the German projects in the North and Baltic Seas. High revenues attract investors

The ocean plays a major role in the Investors’ preference for British wind is down to one simple reason: the revenues are high and the risks UK’s energy provision. In view of low. The British government is proving to be unusual­ shrinking oil and gas reserves, ly generous when it comes to promoting offshore wind energy. Through selling electricity and Renewa­ massive investment in offshore wind ble Obligation Certificates (ROCs) investors can cur­ rently expect to earn 142 £/MWh (165 €/MWh). energy is now being made. The By way of comparison: the German Renewable domestic shipbuilding industry is Energy Sources Act (EEG) offers remuneration amount­ ing to 150 €/MWh. This amount of money is only profiting from this. available, however, for offshore wind farms going on­ line by 31st December 2015. Those who are too late can only expect 130 €/MWh. The first of the UK's Round 1 The high remuneration combined with favourable offshore wind farms, North he leading offshore nation is the UK, and it will conditions (short distance of wind farms from the Hoyle in Liverpool Bay, com- continue to be so for a long time. 598 MW British coast, shallower water and thus less risk) is at­ menced operation in 2003. The Thave already been installed off the British tracting many investors. These include the German 30 V80 turbines with a coastline, and further wind farms are under construc­ utilities Eon and RWE, who until now have hardly total capacity of 60 MW produce tion. The extent to which the British nation defends been active in their own country. For investors look­ sufficient electricity annually to its supremacy at sea became clear during the ‘Ham­ ing to invest in offshore wind farms, the UK is the power 50,000 homes. Photo: Vestas burg Offshore Wind’ conference, which was organi­ number one address. sed by Germanischer Lloyd in the middle of May. Although Germany is the undisputed leading wants to secure the wind energy nation in Europe with more than 23,000 energy sector MW that have already been installed across the coun­ try – and the plan is to install wind farms with at least It is very expensive to install wind farms at sea, and just as much capacity off its coast – it currently seems this usually only becomes an option when there is a that in offshore terms Germany has found itself in a shortage of land available onshore. However, as a rather unusual position – namely having to play sec­ *Rule, Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves: ond fiddle. Britons never will be slaves. One of the driving forces in the UK’s offshore of­ Poem by: James Thomson (1700-1748) fensive is the Scottish company Sea Energy Renew­ Put to music by: Thomas Augustine Arne (around 1740) [www.britannia.com]

136 Sun & Wind Energy 7/2009 simple comparison of the installed capacity with the nautical mile zone, the Moray Firth and Firth of Forth onshore area reveals, this is certainly not the case in projects are currently being tendered. the UK. The power density there has only reached In Scotland, the oil and gas industries have 10.7 kW/km². In Germany it is six times as large. Par­ played an important role for 40 years, and the aim is ticularly few wind turbines have been installed in to retain the energy sector there even when the re­ England. With a power density of only 4.5 kW/km², serves in the North Sea run dry in the foreseeable fu­ there is no pressing need to invest in offshore wind ture. It therefore makes sense to heavily promote re­ farms. It therefore seems paradoxical that while only newable energies now in order to secure around 584 MW have been installed onshore in England un­ 150,000 jobs in the energy sector. til now, 528 MW have already been installed offshore. This is where Scottish Development International Do the English want to conserve their charming coun­ is showing considerable commitment. It points to the tryside? vast resources available: wind and waves supply en­ In Scotland a somewhat different attitude seems ergy in abundance and the tidal currents between the to prevail. Here there are enormous wind farms, mainland and the Orkney Islands are some of the which are very prominent features in the landscape. strongest in the world. If these resources are used, Nevertheless there seems to be no end to the number there will be considerable work for the Scottish ship­ of new onshore installations, although Scotland al­ yards. The jacket foundations supporting the two RE­ ready has a greater installed capacity relative to the power wind turbines in the Beatrice project shall now population than Germany. Europe’s largest be produced in series. If 100 jackets are produced is also naturally here: the Whitelee Wind Farm was in­ each year, that will be enough to provide 500 MW augurated on 20th May with the announcement that it with the current technology. This means that the pro­ will not remain with a rated capacity of 320 MW. The duction must be increased even further if 6.4 GW is to Scottish government has already approved its expan­ be installed by 2020. sion to 452 MW. Detlef Koenemann But they also have large-scale offshore plans. Al­ though only the Beatrice Demonstrator Project Further information: Germanischer Lloyd: www.gl-group.com (10 MW) has been realised until now, ten further Scottish Development International: www.sdi.co.uk projects are already earmarked within the 12 nautical Sea Energy Renewables: www.seaenergyrenewables.com mile zone (Scottish Round, see map). Outside the 12 Bard Group: www.bard-engineering.de

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Sun & Wind Energy 7/2009 137 Wind Energy offshore Conference

Offshore wind farms in UK waters as part of four bidding rounds.

Source: The Crown Estate, EWEA Graphic: Eilers-Media

All given figures in Megawatt

Beatrice 920 Beatrice (Demonstrator Project) 10 Moray Firth 500

Inch Cape 905 Firth of Forth 500 Argyll Array 1,500 Bell Rock 700 360 Forth Array 415 Dogger Bank 9,000 Islay 680 Solway Firth 300 Kintyre 378 Robin Rigg Blyth 4 A+B 180 (out of operation)

Wigtown Bay 280 Walney 450 West Duddon 500 Redcar Teesside 90 Cirrus Array 270 Ormonde 150 Hornsea 3,000 Westernmost Barrow 90 Rough 240

Gwynt y Mor 750 Humber Gateway 300 Irish Sea Inner Dowsing 97 1,200 5,000 Race Bank 500 Round I Burbo Bank 90 Sheringham Shoal 315 Round II North Hoyle 60 Dudgeon East 300 90 Cromer 108 Round III Docking Scottish Round Lynn 97 Shoal 500 Norfolk Scroby Sands 60 5,000 operational under construction planned Gunfleet Sands I+II 172 Greater UK Continental Shelf Gabbard I+II 500 1,000 12 nautical miles limit Scarweather Sands 108 Thanet 300 Bristol Channel 1,500 Kentish Flats 90

Hastings 500 West Isle of Wight 500

138 Sun & Wind Energy 7/2009