Expansion of offshore wind offers solution for energy crunch

IZMIR

In the face of the global energy crisis, the expansion of offshore wind energy has come to the fore as a cheap alternative energy resource, not only in the North Atlantic region but also now in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.

The Marentech offshore wind conference in Izmir, Türkiye’s wind capital, which runs from Oct. 26 to Oct. 28, presents sector players with the new targets that Europe has put in place for 2030 for this energy resource.

Giles Dickson, CEO of WindEurope, Europe's voice for wind energy, has outlined the benefits of this energy source, citing lower installation costs, the best use of local natural resources, less reliance on imported fossil fuels, and the potential for economic growth by generating €15 billion in economic activity and job creation.

To date, 77,000 are employed in the industry but a target for 2030 has been set to employ 200,000.

This is on the back of the ambition for Europe set three years ago to install 165 gigawatts of offshore power by 2030 and a goal to ramp up floating offshore power from the current installed 100 gigawatts to 300 gigawatts by 2023.

Floating offshore wind is the key driver for sector growth in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, and Türkiye is now joining other countries like Norway, the UK, Greece, and Italy to ramp up generation.
The collective ambition in Europe and Türkiye is for 10 gigawatts of installed capacity.

'Offshore power plants are also strategic'

Murat Durak, the chairman of the Offshore Wind Energy Association (DURED), echoed the same view that offshore wind power plants have gained huge headway in Europe over the past 10-12 years.

Durak said that as offshore wind offers a solution to the ongoing energy crisis in Europe, as its capacity factor is higher compared to onshore wind and solar plants.

"Onshore wind power plants operate with a capacity factor of 30-35%, solar power plants with a capacity factor of 10-12%, while offshore wind power plants operate with a capacity factor of 60-65% and so is close to a thermal power plant," he explained.

He stressed that Türkiye has been very successful in onshore wind development both in terms of industry and installed power.
The country has an installed power of close to 12,000 megawatts (MW), with licensed and under-construction wind plants of nearly 3,000 MW.

"It is out of the question for Türkiye also not to benefit from its offshore wind energy potential. Offshore wind power plants are not only electricity generation facilities, but also very serious strategic facilities," he asserted.

To gain economically, Türkiye should also aim to localize the manufacture of offshore wind energy equipment, according to Durak.

"The ships, turbine foundations, blades, and towers used in offshore wind power plants should be built in our country as much as possible because if we cannot provide this, offshore wind power plants will be expensive for our country from the beginning," he warned.

'Main solution to climate change is renewable energy'

Ali Ercan Turkoglu, the general manager of Izenerji, reiterated that Izmir has become a magnet for the country in terms of both productions and as a sub-industry for renewable energy.

The Candarli Port in north Izmir, among the world's ten biggest container ports when operational, will act as a hub port for traffic between the Middle East and Europe and a sectoral export port to enhance Izmir as a center for clean technologies.

He stressed the importance of renewable energy as a major contributor to the solution to climate change, a hot topic that is currently on the agenda in Europe.

"At this point, we see this congress as a symbol of the start of such very important potential. We would like to thank all the participants for their participation in this important mission, believing that in the very near future offshore wind potential will have a place in energy production and that it will take a large share with very rapid development," he concluded.