Extending the lifespan of offshore windfarms could help the move to subsidy-free renewable energy, according the chief executive of Dong Energy Wind Power.
Speaking at the Offshore Wind Energy 2017 conference in London yesterday (6 June), Samuel Leopold said a recent move by the German government to allow offshore windfarms to run for 30 years is a “strong element” in move to subsidy-free energy.
“I hope since Belgium is going to review their approach in their next round of offshore wind, they will take this lesson from Germany into account and acknowledge from a technical point of view, these assets can operate much longer,” added Leopold.
He also added that in Europe at the moment, one of the key challenges is “that the electricity wholesale market price is neither doing the job on the consumer side or the generator side”.
“It does not solicit new suppliers into the market and it does not solicit consumers to become energy efficient,” added Leopold.
“European policy makers need to think about how to make energy prices come back and reinvigorated in a way that the price delivers what the market price should do.”
A report published yesterday by RenewableUK, entitled Unleashing Europe’s Offshore Wind Potential, claims at least 25GW of offshore wind energy can be installed in UK waters by the end of the next decade, which would be enough to power three quarters of all households in the UK.
The report states this can be achieved using larger offshore wind turbines, each with a capacity of 13GW.
It also envisages an expansion in the market for floating offshore wind farms, in addition to projects with traditional foundations.
“This report shows what our innovative offshore wind industry can deliver in the years ahead, securing economic growth and cheaper electricity,” said RenewableUK’s executive director, Emma Pinchbeck.
“The government can help us by continuing to hold fiercely competitive auctions for financial support, as well as putting offshore wind at the heart of its upcoming industrial strategy. Clear, bold, modern energy policy will attract billions of pounds of investment.”