Marine Renewables Becomes a ‘Regular’ Editorial Category in Maritime Journal (UK)

Maritime Journal is increasing its coverage of Marine Renewable Energy, with the topic becoming a ‘regular’ editorial category in every issue of MJ from the January issue onwards.

MJ’s readers include many of the implementers who go out to install and maintain the new technology, not to mention the vessel builders who build the craft from which the work is conducted and the many port and harbour authority managers gearing up to attract investment and establish long term operational bases as a new dimension to the port facilities they can provide for the fast emerging industries.

More new wind power capacity was installed in the EU in 2009 than any other electricity generating technology, according to the European Wind Energy Association, with 39% of all new capacity installed being wind power,

Europe decommissioned more coal, fuel oil and nuclear capacity than it installed in 2009. Taken together, renewable energy technologies account for 62% of new power generating capacity last year.

Investment in new European wind farms in 2009 reached €13bn, including €1.5bn in the offshore sector, which grew by 56% over the year to reach 583 MW of offshore installation.

2009 was the second year running that more wind power capacity has been installed than any other electricity generating technology. It is also the second successive year that renewable energies have accounted for the majority of new investments.

Wave and tidal energy technologies are not too many years behind offshore wind as emerging technologies which can be scaled up to become significant maritime industries. A recent report by the Offshore Valuation Group, an informal collaboration of government and industry organisations in the UK, suggests that by exploiting less than a third of the available resource, the country could create 145,000 new jobs, provide the Treasury with £28bn in tax revenues per year and make Britain into a net exporter of electricity. The supply chain necessary to do so would provide £62bn of annual revenue by 2050.

Recent confirmation that the UK government is to provide £60m worth of funding for the development of port infrastructure to meet the demands of the emerging offshore wind energy business has resulted in three large companies, Siemens, GE, and Gamesa confirming their intentions to press ahead with major investment plans in the UK. It is part of a trend that can be observed across Europe and MJ aims to keep its readers fully informed of all the news and opportunities as this exciting future unfolds.

(maritimejournal)

[mappress]

Source: maritimejournal, December 23, 2010