Diving in: Solving the supply chain issues in offshore wind
The offshore wind industry is undergoing its next big expansion. Licensing rounds are growing, interest in the new floating designs are high, and investors are active.
The offshore wind industry is undergoing its next big expansion. Licensing rounds are growing, interest in the new floating designs are high, and investors are active.
All aspects of renewable electricity generation in the UK are currently affected by policy uncertainty. The UK government’s stated policy goals are to decarbonise electricity generation through increased deployment of offshore wind, carbon capture utilisation and storage, hydrogen and nuclear.
2022 has been a year of challenge with the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic still impacting markets and the war in Ukraine affecting so many. Consequences of such a tumultuous year include the energy supply crisis, the fluctuation in commodity prices, the cost-of-living crisis and the onset of recession, which are all inextricably linked.
Unlike hydrocarbons, which produce carbon dioxide, heat and water when combusted in the presence of oxygen, hydrogen produces only heat and water. As we seek to decarbonise the UK’s energy sector one of the paths that is being explored is the use of hydrogen within a grid connected gas fired power plant in the UK.
By 2030 half of all UK wind farms will be over 20 years old. Not only will the wind turbines have reached the end of their design life after 20 years, but the projects' leases, planning permission and other contracts will have been structured around this 20 year period.