The development of offshore wind energy, like other renewable energy sources, is associated with many challenges. Among them are resources and access to them. According to the report of the International Energy Agency, there is a discrepancy between climate ambitions and the availability of critical raw materials. Set targets for renewable energy on a global scale are associated with a sharp increase in demand for raw materials. Dr Fatih Birol, IEA's Executive Director, points out that neglecting this issue could slow down the development of technology and increase the cost of global progress towards zero-emission energy, and thus hamper [...]

Norwegian seismic research company SeaBird Exploration Plc will execute its first contract in the offshore wind energy sector. The contract covers the charter of the Petrel Explorer vessel, i.e. a floating hotel [PR1]. The contract was implemented at the end of April 2021 and will last 4 months in the waters of the Baltic Sea. This is the company's first such contract in the offshore wind energy sector. The details of the agreement have not been given, the vessel itself will be operated for the purposes of the wind farm service. It was also not indicated which farm was [...]

A port strategy and investments of EUR 6.5 billion until 2030 are needed, according to the latest WindEurope report. The goal of climate neutrality until 2050 requires a 25-fold increase in the currently installed capacity in offshore wind energy sector. Only until 2030, the capacity of offshore wind turbines will increase to 110 GW. Such ambitious goals will not come true without the port infrastructure. Ports connect the local supply chain, logistics and auxiliary infrastructure in the form of e.g. warehouses. Installation and service works are also carried out from the port throughout the life cycle of the wind farms. [...]

The Baltic Sea will be enriched with another service port - according to the announcements of Polish decision-makers and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan of Poland, it will be Łeba. The Norwegian Equinor has announced that it has purchased a plot of land in this city, on which a maintenance and service base will be built. In Poland, the issue of establishing ports for the construction and operation of offshore wind farms is being considered. According to the announcements of Polish decision-makers, Gdynia will be the main installation port, while Łeba and Ustka will be service ports. The concept [...]

IHS Markit analysts estimate that 15 MW wind turbines will appear on the offshore wind energy market within the next three years. Unfortunately, the current fleet of ships used to assemble wind turbines is not adapted to work with next-generation technologies. This poses a great risk to the global goals of the offshore wind sector. At the end of 2020, the total installed capacity in offshore wind on a global scale exceeded the level of 35 GW. Technologies in this sector are constantly developed and today there are 12 MW turbines on the market (GE Renewable Energy Haliade-X). The [...]