Installed global offshore wind capacity can hit 1400GW by 2050 if policymakers quickly open new seabed for development in new and emerging markets, RenewableUK’s virtual Global Offshore Wind conference has heard.
Orsted’s UK offshore vice president Benj Sykes told delegates that hitting the target figure, published last month by The Ocean Renewable Energy Action Coalition (OREAC), will require convincing countries with no clear targets for the green technology to firm up development plans.
“As part of the Ocean Panel, offshore wind developers are working across all coastal member states of the UN and looking to get them to take solid action to open up their seabeds,” he said.
The 1400GW figure would represent an almost fifty-fold growth on current installed capacity worldwide, which according to the latest figures from the Global Wind Energy Council stands at 29GW.
Sykes was speaking during the Wednesday morning session ‘Global Approaches and Opportunities’.
RWE Renewables chief operating officer for offshore wind Sven Utermöhlen told the session that governments and industry should plan for large volumes of offshore wind to unlock more areas for development.
“In Europe there could be up to 450GW of offshore wind by 2050, which means spatial planning needs to play a crucial role as other parties will also need seabed acreage,” he said.
Iberdrola Renewables offshore managing director Jonathan Cole said the industry also needs to find answers to questions about how best to bring power to shore if offshore wind is to make up a significant share of the future energy mix.
“There are big issues that need to be addressed and resolved now. We need to get to the heart of the future energy market and recognise that the incremental point-to-point system for connecting wind farms [that has largely been used to connect the 29GW in operation today] cannot deliver huge volumes,” he said.