Highlights of the Month: June 2016

TenneT Presents ‘Hub and Spoke’ Offshore Wind Concept (VIDEO)

TenneT has presented a ‘hub and spoke’ concept to set up a large European offshore electricity system that incorporates building of an island in the middle of the North Sea.

Where Does Brexit Leave Offshore Wind?

With the UK referendum result to leave the European Union, along came reactions discussing effects of the country’s move, including those from the offshore wind sector, where the UK is at the forefront.

GE Enters Into Talks to Buy Adwen

General Electric (GE) has entered into talks with Areva, Gamesa, Siemens and the French state to discuss the potential acquisition of Adwen, a 50 – 50 offshore wind joint venture between Areva and Gamesa, Jeff Immelt, GE’s CEO, told French daily Le Figaro.

Siemens-Gamesa Merger Moves Ahead, Areva Waives Adwen Contractual Restrictions

French energy company Areva has agreed to waive existing contractual restrictions in Gamesa’s and Areva’s offshore wind joint venture, Adwen, simplifying the merger between Gamesa and Siemens, the binding agreement for which was signed on Friday, 17 June.

Shell Joins Dutch OW Consortium Aiming for EUR 70/MWh by 2030

A consortium of 16 Dutch companies and research institutes will launch an innovation program for offshore wind – GROW – with an aim to bring the cost of offshore wind further down to seven eurocents per kWh by 2030.

Siemens Lays Out Cost Cutting Strategy

Siemens stated that its offshore wind projects from 2025 onward will be capable of generating electricity at a Levelized Cost of Energy (LCoE) level below eight euro cents per kilowatt hour (kWh), with the price also including the costs for grid access to shore.

Timelapse: Dudgeon Foundation Eased Into Place

Statoil has shared a timelapse video of one of 67 foundations for the 402MW Dudgeon offshore wind farm being installed in the UK part of the North Sea.

Floatgen: Construction of First French Offshore Wind Turbine Kicks Off

The construction of the first wind turbine to be installed off the French coast – Floatgen – was officially launched today.

Vattenfall Kicks Off Offshore Wind Tender Qualifiers

Vattenfall has launched Qualification System Wind 2016, an online tool for selection of candidates suitable to carry out specific works for the company’s offshore wind projects off the Netherlands and Denmark.

Adwen, LM Wind Power Present World’s Longest Blade

Adwen and LM Wind Power have presented a 88.4-metre blade, specifically designed for Adwen’s AD 8-180 wind turbine model.