The offshore wind industry needs clear national and EU policy to deal with “unprecedented pressure” on the sector, WindEurope Offshore 2019 has heard.
Vattenfall wind boss and WindEurope chair Gunnar Groebler (pictured) called for increased cooperation between member countries and Brussels on maritime spatial planning, grid build-out and support for innovative projects.
“We need real and long-term vision,” he told delegates in Copenhagen on day one of the event.
This is required to deal with “unprecedented pressure” in the sector, including tightening margins and problems in the supply chain that are leading to thousands of job losses, in particular in Germany, he said.
The wind industry is also “on the brink” of losing access to global talent.
However, offshore wind stands ready to become the backbone of the bloc’s future power system under a European green new deal.
The sector is already cost competitive, building at gigawatt-scale and exporting its expertise around the world, said Groebler.
Further support for the industry is a “golden economic opportunity”, he added.
“Offshore wind could, and should, be the backbone of the European green deal. This week is about how to make it happen.”