BACKGROUND INFORMATION Offshore Wind Energy

							                               BACKGROUND INFORMATION

                                    Offshore Wind Energy

Potential of Offshore Wind

While the majority of wind installations in Europe are currently situated onshore, the strongest
and most constant wind can be found off the continent’s northern and western coasts. The
first offshore wind farm – an 11-turbine installation in Vindeby, Denmark – has been
operational since 1991. By the end of 2006, 18 offshore wind projects in five countries added
up to nearly 900 MW of electricity generation. Accounting for just 1.8% of the total installed
wind power capacity, they nevertheless provided 3.3% of all electricity generated by wind
power. By 2015, current and planned offshore developments in eight EU countries could
reach 15 GW. By 2020, if the existing barriers to the development of this technology are
removed, EWEA estimates that this figure could increase to 40 GW of offshore wind power in
EU waters.

An increase in the use of offshore wind power would reduce CO2 and increase the security of
energy supply, as well as providing additional employment in areas such as construction,
engineering and ship logistics. In order fully to develop and exploit the potential of this highly
promising energy source, a European offshore wind policy is crucial. Recently, the European
Parliament adopted Rapporteur Britta Thomsen’s report, which calls on the Commission to
draw up an action plan for offshore wind, a sign that there is considerable support within the
Parliament for the idea of such a policy.

From Strong Beginnings

In 2005, a major offshore wind energy event was organised by the Danish Wind Industry
Association (DWIA). The Copenhagen Offshore Wind Conference (COW05) attracted more
than 100 exhibitors and 1000 delegates from across Europe, bringing together policy makers
and offshore practitioners. From this heritage, the European Offshore Wind Energy
Conference and Exhibition (Offshore Wind 2007) has developed. Jakob Holst, Senior Advisor
for DWIA outlines why it was the right moment to hold COW, and why it is now appropriate to
continue building on the work started in Copenhagen: “the offshore industry faces challenges
in its development, as we plan projects across Europe. We felt the time was right to harness
the industry’s optimism and experience, look at what we can adapt from traditional offshore
industries like oil and gas, and address some of the shared challenges we face. These include
influencing policy makers and developing technologies for the marine environment.
Attendance exceeded our hopes, and it became obvious that offshore development issues
were a common European challenge,” continued Holst.


With the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) acting as the voice of wind energy
across Europe, DWIA felt that the conference and exhibition would benefit from the wider
profile EWEA could offer, initiating a broader interest in the political, as well as practical issues
that the industry was facing.



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Under EWEA’s management, the pan-European event will take place every other year, in
markets with offshore potential, starting in 2007 with Berlin. “Berlin was a natural choice for
2007,” commented Loïc Blanchard, Senior Policy Advisor for EWEA. “The interest in offshore
development within Germany is strong and is backed by significant political support. Recent
developments have advanced the possibility of an offshore wind action plan, which was
foreseen in Copenhagen two years ago. In Berlin we will move forward with these policy
issues and benefit from constructive debate on the key barriers.”

Changes in the market

Since COW05, the offshore market has changed and developed on a technological level, with
some of the technical challenges more difficult than they first appeared. “It’s no day at the
beach, that’s for sure, but on the whole we are still able to look at our challenges as
opportunities,” said Holst, outlining some of the issues that the offshore industry still faces. “As
an industry we still need to keep working together to look at these opportunities – European
Offshore Wind 2007 is an important part of our progress, facilitating the process of maturing
the industry,” he added.
For the past two years, DWIA and EWEA have been working in partnership and, more
recently, other key partners, including the main German Wind and Engineering Associations
and Institutes (BWE, VDMA, FGW, WAB and DEWI) and ministries from Germany, Denmark
and Sweden, have also been involved. Together they have developed a conference
programme that will entice, enlighten and engage the offshore community.

EUROPEAN OFFSHORE WIND 2007

This event will build on the experiences of COW and facilitate the deployment of offshore wind
energy across Europe.
While there are still political barriers, current dialogue offers several potential solutions and
there is hope that the necessary enabling frameworks can be created. (Learn more by
attending the relevant conference sessions: EU and National Policies, Regional Development,
and Market and Industry Development).

Supporting this, the opening session of Offshore Wind 2007 will enable policy makers from
across Europe to exchange views with industry decision makers, creating a unique
opportunity to develop constructive dialogue.

In addition, demands for more efficient and reliable offshore technologies are resulting in more
innovation and cost-effective solutions to deal with harsh marine environments. (Learn more
by attending the relevant conference sessions: Technology, Operations and Maintenance,
Grids and Foundations, Standards and Certification).

The conference will also mark the launch of EWEA’s Offshore Report, which presents the
Offshore Wind Advisory Group’s policy recommendations for a large-scale deployment of
offshore wind in the EU.

Last but not least, Offshore Wind 2007 will be an excellent opportunity to network with over
1000 delegates and visitors from 70 countries, enabling discussion and debate with the key
players in the wind industry.

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