Sector News
Despite coronavirus: Wind industry is stable and ready for politics to take action
WindEnergy Hamburg, the global onshore & offshore event, has been rescheduled for 1-4 December 2020 because of the coronavirus. In a digital press conference, industry experts from all around Europe assessed the wind industry’s current situation, the effects of the pandemic and the importance of the EU Green Deal, giving an outlook on the sector’s future.
The coronavirus pandemic affects all aspects of life and the economy. At a press conference in preparation of WindEnergy Hamburg, the world’s leading wind industry expo, experts discussed the current situation and its global impact on the wind energy industry. Speakers from all around Europe participated in the conference.
The decision to reschedule WindEnergy Hamburg for December was made in May. The team at Hamburg Messe is working vigorously on the development of safety concepts to ensure a successful trade fair for exhibitors and visitors alike. In addition, the exhibition will feature both digital and hybrid presentation formats, with broad backing across the industry. “We got a lot of positive feedback from our exhibitors who support our plans for the new December dates. It gives them a more solid basis for organising and planning. So the vast majority of exhibitors and all of the big manufacturers will stay on board and the number of cancellations has actually been quite low. We are of course very happy about that and confident that we have made the right decision,” said Bernd Aufderheide, President and CEO, Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH.
All speakers gave a positive view of the sector’s prospects while calling upon governments to take specific action. The digital discussion panel included top-level representatives from the business world, politics and industry organisations providing insights into all areas of the sector.
Global upswing despite coronavirus
While the pandemic and the resulting lockdown measures have disrupted supply chains, hampered investments and brought wind power projects to a temporary halt, energy production from existing wind farms has been stable over the past months. “Covid-19 is undoubtedly proving a challenge for the wind industry affecting the global supply chain, manufacturing and project execution. But the crisis is also showing the resilience of the sector, which has continued to provide affordable and clean energy throughout,” said Dr. Markus M. Tacke, Chairman of VDMA Power Systems and CEO of Siemens Gamesa.
Giles Dickson, CEO of WindEurope and co-organiser of WindEnergy Hamburg, pointed out that wind energy has become the most economical energy source in many parts of the world: “New models for offshore wind turbines have reached scales no one had expected some years ago, with single turbines of 12 MW and more. Floating wind is on about to getting ready for commercial market entry.”
Thorsten Herdan, Director General Energy, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, added: “In Germany, the electricity due to COVID-19 has pushed the share of renewables and wind energy in the electricity sector to new hights. So far, more than 55% of total electricity production in 2020 is renewable – wind alone makes up for a third of electricity production in 2020. And we have observed no problems with grid stability. This shows that our system is capable to adopt very high shares of renewables.”
Renewable energy is part of the EU recovery plan
The speakers agreed that the wind industry plays a crucial role in fighting the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. “COVID-19 is a huge hit to the EU economy. Last week the EU Recovery Plan singled out wind and other renewables as ‘policy fundamentals of the recovery’. And wind will deliver. It is cheap, reliable and already 15 percent of Europe’s electricity. The EU wants it to be 50 percent by 2050. That means huge investments. It means investing now. It means the jobs and growth that are needed now. The EU is unleashing all its firepower to drive a green recovery – €1.85 trillion. WindEnergy Hamburg in December will show how wind can make this count,” said Giles Dickson.
Dr. Markus M. Tacke voiced an explicit call to action: “Now is the time to build on this platform by investing in a true Green Recovery that can stimulate economic growth and job creation.”
And Thorsten Herdan added: “In Germany, the electricity due to COVID-19 has pushed the share of renewables and wind energy in the electricity sector to new hights. So far, more than 55% of total electricity production in 2020 is renewable – wind alone makes up for a third of electricity production in 2020. And we have observed no problems with grid stability. This shows that our system is capable to adopt very high shares of renewables”
Positive outlook
Ben Backwell, CEO of the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), said that wind energy has demonstrated its dependability in the current crisis and deserves to be trusted: “The wind industry has proven itself to be resilient during the COVID-19 crisis, providing reliable and cost-competitive energy to power our society as the world is in lockdown.” China holds great promise, as well: “GWEC forecasted 2020 to be a record year for wind installations, and while the current crisis will impact these projections, we still see countries like China, the biggest wind market in the world, to surpass even our pre-COVID forecasts.” Backwell called on politics to provide support: “Governments across the world must leverage the resilience and huge potential of the wind power sector to generate investment, create jobs and renew critical infrastructure like grids and ports to power a green recovery.”
When WindEnergy Hamburg launches in six months, it will be the industry’s first gathering after the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. The speakers were unanimous in stressing the enormous opportunities this global trade event opens up: „WindEnergy Hamburg is the worldwide platform for wind energy – both on- and offshore. On the way back to the new normal, we need to refocus on solutions and products needed for a sustainable economy, on a global scale. WindEnergy Hamburg provides the required stage and is therefore essential for our industry,” said Dr. Markus M. Tacke. Bernd Aufderheide emphasised: “WindEnergy Hamburg will be a catalyst for the energy transition. In December we will provide the wind industry with a platform to network, share key information, and work on new ideas.”
WindEnergy Hamburg from 1 to 4 December 2020
Every two years one of the most fascinating and promising industries meets for the leading global networking event for wind energy: At WindEnergy Hamburg, situated right in the heart of the vibrant northern German port city, 1,400 exhibitors will present their innovations and solutions. The event has a highly international profile, with half of exhibitors hailing from abroad. Leading suppliers of system components for all stages of the onshore and offshore wind energy value chain will provide a comprehensive overview of the market. Around 600 service providers offering everything from planning and project design to installation, operation and maintenance, and through to marketing, certification and financing will complete the picture.
The Who’s Who of the wind industry will be present, including representatives of trade associations, the science community and politics. The Expo will be accompanied by WindEurope’s conference programme featuring top-ranking experts who will address the industry’s current key topics. The comprehensive conference programme is managed by WindEurope, the co-organiser of WindEnergy Hamburg. GWEC, Global Partner of the event, will present Global Business Insights. Originally scheduled to take place from 22 to 25 September 2020, WindEnergy Hamburg 2020 has been postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It will now be held from 1 to 4 December 2020.
Sector News
Large construction site for the energy transition: RWE modernises two wind farms and increases power generation
Ground frost, gusts of wind, cold – the RWE team braved the adverse conditions. Over the next few weeks, a total of around 100 employees and experts from RWE and its partner companies will be working on two wind farms to dismantle 17 older wind turbines and replace them with 11 new, more powerful ones. By repowering the wind farms in this way, RWE can significantly increase electricity production despite using fewer turbines. This is due to the larger rotor blades being able to capture more wind and produce green electricity even when the wind is weak. At the Lesse and Barbecke sites, the company will increase capacity from 30.6 to 61.8 megawatts (MW).
Katja Wünschel, CEO RWE Renewables Europe & Australia: “43,500 is the number of the day. Once operational, the wind farms will be able to supply the equivalent of 43,500 households with green electricity. Electricity production at both sites will more than triple. Repowering is therefore making an important contribution to the success of the energy transition. But it is not only the climate that benefits, since we voluntarily pay an RWE climate bonus of 0.2 cents per kilowatt hour produced to the local communities. The town of Salzgitter and the municipalities of Lengede, Burgdorf and Söhlde can look forward to a total annual income of up to €280,000, which will be distributed among the municipalities.”
RWE opts for established wind sites in Lesse and Barbecke
The local conditions make the area suitable for wind power, with sufficient distance from the nearest villages and good wind conditions. In Lesse, RWE will replace eleven turbines of the oldest generation (total capacity 19.8 MW) with eight modern turbines with a total capacity of 44.7 MW.
In Barbecke, RWE will replace six existing turbines (total capacity 10.8 MW) with three turbines with an installed capacity of 5.7 MW each (total capacity 17.1 MW). The team has started to set up the construction site and carry out initial road works.
Any repowering project is a logistical challenge. In parallel with the new construction, the old turbines need to remain connected to the grid for as long as possible in order to continue generating green electricity.
Jens Meyer, Project manager at RWE: “We really have our hands full. While we have already laid the first foundation with a diameter of more than 26 metres for the new wind farm in Lesse, we were able to start dismantling the old plant at the same time. We are doing this in the most environmentally-friendly and resource-efficient way possible. We are leaving areas that are no longer required in such a way that they can be used without restriction after dismantling. We also reuse some of the gravel removed from roads and crane pads in the new wind farm.”
How communities benefit from wind power
RWE operates around 90 onshore wind farms in its home market. Involving citizens and local authorities in renewable energy projects is a key element in driving forward the energy transition. It promotes local acceptance. In Germany, the company gives all municipalities with an RWE wind farm a share of the profits. As the RWE climate bonus is paid per kilowatt hour of electricity generated, communities where high-capacity plants are based benefit the most. This creates an additional incentive to replace older plants with modern ones. In Lesse and Barbecke, electricity production will more than triple after repowering. Municipalities can expect to receive up to €280,000 per year of wind farm operation, up from up to €80,000. The additional income can be used, for example, to financially support local facilities such as day-care centres for children, schools and fire brigades. RWE plans to commission all new plants this coming winter.
Sector News
The EU built a record 17 GW of new wind energy in 2023 – wind now 19% of electricity production
The EU built 17 GW of new wind energy in 2023, slightly up on 2022 – and more than ever in a single year in fact. But it’s not enough to reach the EU’s 2030 targets. The EU should be building 30 GW of new wind every year between now and 2030. The actions set out in the EU Wind Power Package and European Wind Charter will help increase the annual build-out – national implementation is key. Wind was 19% of all electricity produced in Europe’s last year.
According to WindEurope data, the EU built 17 GW of new wind farms in 2023: 14 GW onshore; 3 GW offshore. These numbers are slightly up on 2022 and are the most the EU has ever built in a single year. But it’s well below the 30 GW a year that the EU needs to build to meet its new 2030 climate and energy security targets.
Germany built the most new wind capacity followed by the Netherlands and Sweden. The Netherlands built the most new offshore wind, including the 1.5 GW “Hollandse Kust Zuid” – for now the world’s largest wind farm.
The IEA estimates that Europe will build 23 GW a year of new wind over 2024-28. The actions set out in the EU Wind Power Package should deliver a significant increase in the annual build-out – and strengthen Europe’s wind energy supply chain. National implementation of the actions is key.
To that end the commitment to deliver the Wind Power Package that 26 EU Energy Ministers signed before Christmas in the European Wind Charter was key. Crucial actions include the further simplification of permitting, improvements in the design of the auctions to build new wind farms and public financial support for wind turbine manufacturing and key infrastructure.
Wind was 19% of the electricity produced in the EU last year. Hydro was 13%, solar 8% and biomass 3%. Renewables in total amounted to 44% of electricity produced.
The amount of electricity produced from 1 GW of wind continued to grow. The “capacity factor” of new onshore wind farms now ranges from 30-48%, and new offshore wind is consistently 50%. The capacity factor measures how much output you get from a unit of capacity – it varies between different renewable technologies.
Sector News
A Race to the Top China 2023: China’s quest for energy security drives wind and solar development
China is on track to double its utility-scale solar and wind power capacity and shatter the central government’s ambitious 2030 target of 1,200 gigawatts (GW) five years ahead of schedule, if all prospective projects are successfully built and commissioned, according to a new report from Global Energy Monitor (GEM).
China on track to exceed 2030 wind & solar target
With 757 GW of already operating wind and solar, and an additional 750 GW of prospective wind and solar, the majority of which expected to come online by 2025, the central government’s 2030 target is expected to be met 5 years ahead of schedule.
The Global Solar and Wind Power Trackers identify prospective projects that have been announced or are in the pre-construction and construction phases totalling approximately 379 GW of large utility-scale solar and 371 GW of wind capacity, which is roughly equal to China’s current installed operating capacity.
Nearly all of this prospective capacity is part of the government’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) and enough to increase the global wind fleet by nearly half and large utility-scale solar installations by over 85%. This amount of prospective solar capacity is triple that of the United States, and accompanied by China’s significant share of approximately one-fifth of the global prospective wind capacity.
The Global Solar and Wind Power Trackers also show:
. China’s operating large utility-scale solar capacity has reached 228 GW – more than the rest of the world combined.
. China’s combined onshore and offshore wind capacity has doubled from what it was in 2017 and now surpasses 310 GW.
. Operating offshore wind capacity has reached 31.4 GW, and accounts for approximately 10% of China’s total wind capacity and exceeds the operating offshore capacity of all of Europe
“This new data provides unrivaled granularity about China’s jaw-dropping surge in solar and wind capacity. As we closely monitor the implementation of prospective projects, this detailed information becomes indispensable in navigating the country’s energy landscape.” Dorothy Mei, Project Manager at Global Energy Monitor
“China is making strides, but with coal still holding sway as the dominant power source, the country needs bolder advancements in energy storage and green technologies for a secure energy future.” Martin Weil, Researcher at Global Energy Monitor
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