Marine Industries Global Market Analysis - Marine Institute

102 MARINE INDUSTRIES GLOBAL MARKET ANALYSIS
Figure 18.3: Offshore Windpower –
European Capital Expenditure
18.4 OFFSHORE WINDPOWER
There are 17 operational offshore wind farms worldwide.The 324 installed turbines
in these projects provide a total of 605 MW. A total of 2,258 turbines are forecast
to be installed between 2005 and 2009, a total of 7,500 MW.
The most recent project is the 60 MW Scroby Sands wind farm off the UK.
The first offshore wind turbines were installed at Vindeby off the Danish island of
Lolland in 1991, but significant activity did not begin until 2001. Once the associated
industry was deemed established, the Danish government’s economic support for
offshore windfarms was withdrawn and new installations virtually ceased.
By 2008, it is likely that the UK will be the world’s largest purchaser of equipment
and services, with Germany taking the lead in 2009.The US may also begin
to develop into a significant market over the period.
Source: Douglas–Westwood
Figure 18.4: Offshore Wind Turbine Size
The first ten years saw small projects being built in very shallow water, near shore
locations.These wind farms, in most cases, used onshore turbine models with slight
adaptations.These ‘demonstration’ projects have paved the way for the more recent
projects that are much larger.
Ireland has a relatively high number of project proposals. In the Alternative Energy
Requirement competition AER VI round, two 25 MW projects (Kish and Bray
Banks) were granted concessions. Both are under development by Saorgus Energy,
and Hibernian Wind Power – owned by state company ESB. Scheduled start-up date
is 2006.The 200 MW first phase of the 700 MW Codling Banks project, originally
to begin construction by 2007, may be delayed to the end of the decade.
The 520 MW Clogher Head offshore wind farm off County Louth is under
development by Airtricty. It is in two sections, one of which borders Northern Irish
waters.The wind farm will generate electricity to both Ireland and Northern Ireland
when it is commissioned, potentially by 2010.
18.5 TECHNOLOGICAL CHALLENGES
Increasing offshore wind turbine size is a key issue – fewer turbines mean lower costs.
Source: Douglas–Westwood
The Arklow Banks wind farm off Ireland has seven 3.6 MW turbines operating,
presently the largest in the world. Prototype 4 MW turbines are expected in 2005/6,
5 MW from 2007 and by 2009 these will be the norm. Above this size the