Offshore Wind Farms Could Power 37 Million Homes by 2020

August 28, 2009 | 7 Comments

Global offshore wind farm capacity could grow at a compound annual rate of 32% over the course of the next decade, according to a new report by energy consulting firm ODS-Petrodata.

The International Offshore Wind Market to 2020 report predicts that by the end of 2020 global offshore wind farm capacity will have soared to 55 gigawatts (GW). Current installed capacity is under 2 GW.

Based on an analysis of more than 700 projects and prospects in the company's database, ODS-Petrodata forecasts US $61.4 billion of capital expenditure in the sector between now and 2014. For 2016 to 2020, total capital expenditure could be double that.

"Although the credit crisis and other constraints have tempered the market, there is clearly a huge business opportunity here," says David Gault, Renewables Manager at ODS-Petrodata. "These are big industrial projects, and it will take lots of equipment, manpower and innovation to get them built. Now is a great time for companies in other sectors, such as offshore oil and gas, to assess whether they can grab a piece of the action."

Bottlenecks in the supply chain are already being relieved by new entrants the report says. Several emerging European manufacturers of offshore-rated turbines will challenge the dominance of Siemens and Vestas in the next few years, and will later be joined by a batch of Asian manufacturers, including South Korean conglomerates such as Hyundai Heavy Industries and as many as 10 Chinese firms.

The UK currently leads the way for both installed capacity and projects under construction, but it may experience a lull in activity in 2013 and 2014. Germany will more than take up the slack, and will go on to become the industry's power house from 2014 onwards. China and the U.S. will also be very significant players in the longer term.

For more details about the report, click here.

7 Comments

terry badger
September 9, 2009

why aren't there American companies doing this instead of "10 Chinese firms"
???????

Barbara Durkin
September 7, 2009

"The UK currently leads the way for both installed capacity and projects under contruction..."

Let's learn from and not repeat their mistake as "La-La Land wind energy" is presently being attributed to an unprecedented threat of a nationwide black-out in Britain.

"Let us be clear: Britain is facing an unprecedented crisis. Before long, we will lose 40 per cent of our generating capacity.

And unless we come up quickly with an alternative, the lights WILL go out. Not before time, the Confederation of British Industry yesterday waded in, warning the Government it must abandon its crazy fixation with wind turbines as a way of plugging this forthcoming shortfall and instead urgently focus on far more efficient ways to meet the threat of a permanent, nationwide black-out.

There are a few contenders for the title of the maddest thing that has happened in our lifetime.

But a front-runner must be the way in which politicians of all parties have been seduced by the La-La Land promises of the wind power lobby..."

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1199535/CHRISTOPHER-BOOKER-Wind-farms-monument-age-leaders-collectively-went-heads.html#ixzz0QLRgp2MI

Barbara Durkin
September 7, 2009

Section 388 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 requires the Secretary to ensure that any activity on the Outer Continental Shelf is carried out in a manner that provides in Section 4:

"(H) a fair return to the United States for any lease, easement, or right-of-way under this subsection"

A precedent MMS Record of Decision ROD issued in favor of Cape Wind that is "not economically viable", would be in direct conflict with Section 388 of the Energy Policy Act that requires the Secretary "to ensure a fair return to the United States for any lease, or right-of-way under this subsection"

http://www.epa.gov/region1/nepa/pdfs/2009/EPACapeWindFEIS.pdf

Nick Cook
September 2, 2009

For those who have already commented, the article title states "Offshore Wind Farms ", I'm not well versed with US geography but I would suspect that the 'Berkshires ' are not areas out at sea.

My main point however is don't get over excited by the big numbers, '37 Million Homes' is about 1/3 bigger than the UK housing stock. On the basis that domestic electricity is probably about 50% of total usage and total UK electricity accounts for about 0.3% of the total worlds' power use (of approx 15TW) these wind turbines would solve in the region of 1/4 of 1 percent of the problem by 2020.
However if wind power growth carries on at 30% per year then it could provide a meaningful contribution from about 2030 onwards.

Barbara Durkin
September 2, 2009

Well stated, Anonymous.

The Wind Energy Siting Reform Act is the newest attack on Massachusetts citizens' rights launched by this administration. I am opposed to this current attempt to silence citizens.

http://bjdurk.newsvine.com/_news/2009/07/04/2996607-just-say-no-to-the-wind-energy-siting-reform-act-

"Let us not hesitate in beating paths to our state representatives' doors and urging them to vote a resounding NO on the Wind Energy Siting Reform Act, otherwise known as the Bill That Would Plaster The Berkshires With Wind Turbines."

"In case you haven't heard, our state officials, led by Secretary of Environmental Affairs Ian Bowles, want to take all power from the cities and towns when it comes to siting wind turbines and to put it in the hands of a state board that never met a windmill it didn't like."

http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2009/06/29/get-out-of-town/

ANONYMOUS
September 2, 2009

New Massachusetts senator to oppose land based commercial turbines with no setbacks to residential property.

The passing of Ted Kennedy opens new doors for the current governor.The governor wants to get the Massachusetts Wind Energy Siting Reform Act through the legislature as fast as possible before local residents realize the legislature is giving legislative powers to the governor forever.

The beneficiaries of the Massachusetts Wind Energy Siting Reform Act are likely to be those citizens with disproportionate influence and power in the political process, including large corporations and development firms.
Massachusetts, through the new legislation, chooses to redefine property rights through the Wind Energy Siting Reform Act.

The Wind Energy Siting Reform Act will transfer power from towns, legislators, and the courts to the executive branch, giving the governor and his successors unprecedented power to determine the future landscape and economy of every community. This is similar to the 40B housing laws .

The Wind Energy Siting Reform Act is an assault on our rights

The Author
August 30, 2009

They definitely could power that many homes, but with wind energy projects getting killed before they even get off the ground simply because some people don't want their 'view' obscured (N.C., Martha's Vineyard), the likelihood the U.S. would act on such an opportunity is slim to none given the ridiculous impediments already preventing projects.

http://www.sincerelysustainable.com