The report, called Race to Renewables , from energy solutions specialist Aggreko has found that 39% of 855 offshore wind professionals across Europe* surveyed believed the lack of temporary power solutions were the biggest barrier to growth. In addition, the integration of greener technologies was seen to be a key factor in blocking growth.
Elsewhere in the report, 39% of respondents cited difficulties with transport and logistics were the main challenge for accessing power. Alongside this, 34% said that equipment turnaround time was also a problem. The lack of access to power can cause issues throughout the whole development, but it is particularly problematic for the construction phase, when it is needed for cable laying and supporting heavy lifting vessels.
Aggreko’s report also suggests that greener technologies are now becoming increasingly desirable for decision makers looking to drive down emissions during the development phase. Cost was seen as the main barrier to this, though there also appears to be a serious skills gap surrounding new technologies, with over 41% admitting that a lack of technical knowledge and experience was impeding uptake within offshore wind projects.
Persistent temporary power issues could prove costly for the industry, as the high targets set by European governments may not be met if solutions aren’t found. Aggreko has launched this new report to support the industry in addressing these issues, demonstrating the value of strategic supply chain partnerships to provide suitable flexible energy solutions and the expertise to deliver it correctly.
Michel Maaskant, Sector Sales Specialist for Offshore Renewables at Aggreko, said, “Despite the huge growth across the industry, there are still barriers that could cause issues if they’re not tackled. To ensure continued expansion, especially considering the targets set out by bodies across Europe, the wind sector must look at the barriers that are stopping greener technologies being used, alongside the issues around securing power for projects.”
These new partnerships aim to develop a plan for a site’s entire life cycle, aligned with Aggreko’s sustainability framework, ‘Energizing Change™,’ which is designed to support commercially viable energy transitions for its customers. In addition, a central part of the framework is developing renewable infrastructure for the future, including additional grid capacity, commissioning new wind farms, grid balancing services and providing power for building transport networks.
“Energizing Change™ is all about helping industries make the switch to more sustainable energy solutions,” added Maaskant. “However, they can only do this if they are given the correct support and guidance.”
*855 Energy decision makers involved in the construction and commissioning of offshore wind farms working either within an offshore wind farm original equipment manufacturer (OEM) OR an offshore wind developer/contracting company: 100 in UK, 100 in Ireland, 101 in France, 101 in Germany, 102 in Italy, 101 in Spain, 150 in Benelux (50 in Belgium, 50 in Netherlands, 50 in Luxembourg), 100 in Nordics (50 in Sweden, 50 in Norway)
