Paul Carder

Following the Scottish Government’s recent refusals of the Lethen and Narachan Wind Farm applications, this article explores the latest trends surrounding section 36 onshore wind decisions in Scotland. Read more: https://buff.ly/3yTJoUZ #RenewableEnergy #WindFarms #ScottishPlanning #SustainableDevelopment

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Optimism and determination for the onshore wind sector are the main themes coming out of Day 1 of the Onshore Wind Conference 2024. Looking forward to another insightful day - drop by our stand at A8 to see how we can support your onshore wind goals.

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Ørsted successfully pilots new technology that further optimises offshore wind monopile installation. #OffshoreWind #Innovation #RenewableEnergy #Sustainability #Technology #RnD #Biodiversity #EnvironmentalProtection #Ørsted

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UK Energy Transition Update! Flotation Energy’s Green Volt floating wind farm has received regulatory approval and is on track to become the largest floating wind farm in the world with a total installed capacity of 560 MW. We expect the total project cost to be in excess of US$2.6 billion. While the specifics have yet to be publicly disclosed, the Buzzard oil field has been linked to the project. If connected to Green Volt, we expect Buzzard to see a decrease in gas and diesel consumption of around 80%. This would lead to a fall in emissions of around 200,000 tCO2e/yr and a decrease in emissions intensity from 28 kgCO2e/boe to 17 kgCO2e/boe. Additionally, the electrification would enable fuel cost and carbon tax savings of around US$55MM/yr starting in 2029. The project is also set to commercialize surplus electricity via the UK national grid. Including Buzzard, we anticipate 1.3 TWh/yr available for commercialization. Assuming electricity prices remain constant, this could see the Green Volt consortium generate revenue of more than US$150MM/yr.

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ScottishPower is investing £8m to develop its #windfarm base in Lowestoft, Suffolk as the “long-term home” of its #offshore wind operations. The site will be close to the operations and maintenance base for the East Anglia Three wind farm, which is currently under construction. When complete, in 2026, it is set to be the second largest offshore wind farm in the world. Ross Ovens, Renewables' Managing Director for Offshore Development and Operations at the company, says, "We need to have the onshore infrastructure to take the power to where it needs to go. This is important, vital infrastructure for the UK, #greenenergy into the grid and we need the infrastructure to take it where it needs to be." This is a major step in the East Anglia Three project, which will provide power to 1.3 million homes, and two more projects, East Anglia Two and East Anglia One North are already through the consenting stage.

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Having a proactive wind turbine blade management program is essential to ensuring that minor issues don’t develop into major, costly problems. For many companies, blade management is still predominantly reactive, but at EDF Renewables, we have the in-house capacity to inspect, maintain, and repair the blades across our entire fleet, with impressive results – cutting the cost of our blade management campaign in half and saving millions of dollars annually. Read more in our blog by Matt S. Sigala, Senior Manager, Composite Repair Services: https://bit.ly/3ysGjeo

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In the world of wind energy, every project brings its unique set of challenges. From maintaining turbines to optimising performance, the hurdles are many, but so are the opportunities for innovation. What's your biggest challenge in managing wind energy projects? - Predictive maintenance - Performance optimisation - Risk management - Regulatory compliance - Delays - Safety Contact us at [email protected] if you need help, support, to minimize safety, inefficiencies, and saving on costs. #WindEnergy #PredictiveMaintenance #PerformanceOptimisation #RiskManagement #Windplanning #Tracking #Insights

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Completion of Viking Wind Farm means UK's combined onshore and offshore wind capacity is now capable of powering over 26 million homes, according to trade body RenewableUK. The UK's combined onshore and offshore wind power capacity has stormed passed the 30GW mark, with the recent opening of a major new 106 turbine project on the Shetland Islands. Total electricity generation capacity from the UK's onshore and offshore turbines now stands over 30,299MW, which it said was enough to power more than 26 million average homes. The UK's fleet of wind farms is now capable of avoiding over 35 million tonnes of CO2 emissions a year from fossil fuel generation. Read more https://ow.ly/YOyb50T9AEH #WindPower #Renewables #NetZero #EcoFriendly

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A group of young people from Belfast recently visited our Long Mountain Wind Farm to find out about job opportunities in the wind industry. The visit was part of an employability skills programme run by Business in the Community Ireland and the social justice charity, Extern. The group took a tour around our green hydrogen production compound, got a look inside one of the turbine towers and found out about the wide range of jobs available in the wind industry and different career paths, including paid apprenticeships. Our Ops team shared their own experiences of training and working in wind. 16-year-old Riley Messom told us, “I was surprised to hear how many jobs were involved in building and running a wind farm and it was hard to fathom how the huge turbines get delivered and built. Overall, I was most interested in the use of drone technology to monitor the turbines and avoid climbing them every day – I wouldn’t want to be doing that!” Extern supports young people and families through a range of projects and services across the island of Ireland, including employability skills training. Its Pathways Project in Belfast prepares young adults from disadvantaged areas for the next steps, such as finding work or going back into the education system. The charity is working with Business in the Community and BITC members to help service users find employment and training opportunities. Both Extern and BITC believe charities, colleges and businesses all play a vital road in building an inclusive workforce by promoting job and training opportunities. This is in line with Energia Group’s commitment to UN SDG8 Decent Work and Economic Growth. Find out more about our ESG priorities here: https://lnkd.in/dK2X2inY #BusinessintheCommunity #Extern #WorkinWind #SDG8 #UNSDGs #WindEnergy #Employability #PathwayProject #WEI #RenewableNI

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North Channel Wind welcomes new Great British Energy commitment to Northern Ireland. North Channel Wind, the company proposing to install floating wind turbines in the Irish Sea, welcomes the establishment of Great British Energy which it describes as a pivotal moment in NI's journey towards a sustainable and secure energy future. North Channel Wind director Niamh Kenny says the newly formed state-owned energy company marks a significant milestone in NI's commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and enhancing energy independence. “Our plan is to generate up to 1GW of emissions free electricity through the next generation of floating wind turbines positioned off the coast of Co. Antrim,” says Ms Kenny. North Channel Wind says benefits from the significant planned investments in renewable energy and decarbonisation must prioritise NI. “Stormont can now ensure NI benefits from the GB Energy investment plans which will be worth £8.3bn over five years. NI should also be aiming for its share of the further £7.3bn committed to decarbonise heavy industry through the UK Infrastructure Bank,” she says. “Other priorities include securing The Crown Estate leasing agreements for the seabed in the Irish Sea within the next two years and properly resourcing DAERA, DfE and DfI so as to reach decisions on permits and planning in good time, otherwise deadlines currently set for 80% renewables in Northern Ireland by 2030 will slip.”    North Channel Wind has made good progress so far in terms of consulting with coastal communities and the fishing sector and expects the completion of its two-year bird and mammal surveys in September. Benefits of the North Channel Wind project include economic growth through supply chain support, hundreds of new jobs in the renewable energy sector, from engineering and construction to operations and maintenance, significant reduction of GB’s and NI's carbon footprint and enhanced energy independence and resilience.

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The UK has a strong pipeline of potential offshore wind projects that should make it possible to meet its targets 🎯 However, Ember’s analysis of the project pipeline finds that a strong policy backing will be needed to ensure that this happens in time. There's currently 14.7 GW of installed offshore wind capacity in the UK and another 13.3 GW in construction or committed through secured government support 🔜 This means that a further 20 GW needs to be delivered to meet existing targets of 50 GW by 2030 - with the new Labour government targeting 55 GW. Action on offshore wind must therefore start NOW to accelerate more projects through the pipeline and keep these targets on track ⏳ And it's not just this auction - even after boosting the 2024 auction budget, the 2025 auction (AR7) will need to deliver a larger capacity than ever before to close the gap on targets. Read more on the importance of boosting the UK’s offshore wind industry: https://lnkd.in/g9vrm_-A

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Scotland's commitment to advancing offshore wind energy continues to gain momentum with Montrose Port Authority's latest expansion initiative. The acquisition of new sites is set to enhance the region's capacity to support the burgeoning offshore wind sector, ensuring that Scotland remains at the forefront of renewable energy generation. This development is not only crucial in aligning with the UK's net-zero goals but also promises to create jobs and stimulate the local economy. You can read more about this exciting development here: https://lnkd.in/eXJrCWzp As the offshore wind industry evolves, it is essential for ports to adapt and grow alongside these changes. The investments in infrastructure and facilities at Montrose reflect a broader trend across the sector, with various ports worldwide recognising the need to support wind farm developments. For instance, the recent advancements made by the Port of Amsterdam and the investments being made at Grimsby Docks further underscore the urgency with which the industry is moving towards sustainable energy solutions. What does this mean for the future of renewable energy in our communities? With estimates suggesting offshore wind could provide as much as 30% of the UK’s electricity by 2030, the potential for growth is immense. 🌊🔋 Companies operating in this space should consider how they can play a role in this transition, whether through collaboration with port authorities or investing in innovative technologies. Let’s keep the momentum going! How can we further leverage such expansions to enhance offshore wind capabilities? We invite you to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!

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Eurowind Energy's Ambitious Plan for 1 GW of Renewable Power! Danish renewable energy developer Eurowind Energy A/S has announced an ambitious plan to enhance its European presence by adding nearly 1 GW of power generation capacity within the next two years. This initiative involves the construction of up to 50 new power plants in key markets, including #Germany, #Romania, and #Poland, with additional projects in Southern Europe. Eurowind is leveraging a diverse array of technologies for these projects, often integrating multiple systems into hybrid power plants. Their approach include wind turbine generation, solar energy, battery storage, electrolysis, and biogas production. With ongoing construction on more than 10 projects across Europe, Eurowind is set to collaborate with strategic suppliers to bring these new energy parks online within 12-18 months. This is a significant step towards a greener future! 🌍💡 To read more: https://lnkd.in/e4SrD8ii #renewableenergy #wind #solar #batterystorage

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The sixth Contract for Difference (CfD AR6) auction saw 131 projects securing 9.6GW of renewable capacity. A record-breaking auction, but how did each technology fare & are we on track with government targets?   OFFSHORE WIND: 4.9GW secured, bringing the estimated total capacity built or contracted to be built under the CfD (or previous schemes) to 28.6GW. While this marks progress, it remains way below the ~55GW target set by the government as part of its 2030 ambition to quadruple offshore wind capacity.    The price achieved in this round underscores the value of competitive auctions, with offshore wind strike prices for new build sites coming in more than 19% below the cap. However, still well above the record lows seen in AR4.   FLOATING OFFSHORE WIND: Secured 400MW of contracts in AR6 with the largest commercial floating offshore wind project in the world. However, it falls short of the 5GW 2030 target outlined in the Green Prosperity Plan.   Its price remains well above fixed bottom offshore wind sites as it is less established.   SOLAR POWER: One of the most successful technologies with 3.3GW secured, pushing total operational and future contracted CfD capacity to 23.3GW. This is due to a strong pipeline of assets and its competitive edge over onshore wind. However, this remains well below the 50GW target.   The price achieved was above both AR4 and AR5, reflecting the increase in maximum allowed prices.   ONSHORE WIND: Saw comparatively smaller volumes awarded (1.0GW), with most contracts going to Scottish sites. Planning restrictions and high network charges remain a challenge. Changes to planning rules may alter this trend, but it could take time. It achieved a price slightly below the AR5 but well above the AR4, reflective of rising trends in development costs.   TIDAL STREAM: 28MW secured, with prices down 13% from the previous auction, but remaining well above those for more established technologies.   CONSUMER COSTS: £1.285bn budget used. This will be levied on electricity bills under current arrangements, but the true costs to consumers will depend on energy market conditions when the assets become operational. Transparency to consumers on the costs and benefits of this and future auctions is important to ensure consumer buy-in on net zero.   CONCLUSION: We have seen strong progress, with prices that are both above record lows but below allowed maximums. However, there remains a significant gap between contracted capacity and the amount needed to meet ambitious 2030 targets.   With AR7 opening in March, the government must focus on enabling more projects to secure planning permission and grid connections to ensure a sufficient pipeline for future development. Essential not just for meeting our climate goals but also for competition.   Read our full response: https://bit.ly/3AZrl0j   Are you involved in developing or investing in CfD assets? Find out more about our CfD consultancy services: https://bit.ly/4cT2RmG

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Simply Blue Group to develop SAF hub in Nova Scotia Irish offshore wind project developer Simply Blue Group announced plans to transform the former Goldboro Liquified Natural Gas Project site into a major sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) hub. “We are very excited to be developing the Goldboro site into a renewable energy park. The SAF that we will produce there will play an essential part in reducing dependence on fossil fuels and combating climate change,” said Hugh Kelly, CEO & co-founder, Simply Blue Group. The site will be used to produce approximately 150,000 tonnes of SAF per year. #sustainableaviationfuel #SAF #cleanaviationfuel #biofuel #renewablejetfuel #aviationemissions #decarbonization #climatechange #sustainability #greenaviation #aviationindustry #airlineindustry #aerospaceindustry #energytransition #lowcarboneconomy #greeneconomy #innovation #technology Read full below. https://lnkd.in/eVaGKnwP

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UK faces 28GW shortfall in offshore wind target According to analysis, the latest UK CfD auction has left a 28GW shortfall in offshore wind projects, requiring the government to secure this amount in upcoming auctions to meet its 2030 targets. The AR6 auction secured 3.4GW of new offshore wind capacity, with an additional 1.5GW from existing projects, falling short of the overall 55GW goal for 2030. Analysis by LCP Delta, highlighted that to address this shortfall, the UK government will need to secure an additional 28GW in the upcoming AR7 and AR8 auctions, due in 2025 and 2026 respectively. They noted that the AR7 auction budget may need to be increased to over £2.5 billion per annum, to achieve the required 14GW. Sam Hollister of LCP Delta said: “This year’s CfD auction might have helped to turn the ship around after last year’s disappointment, but this is by no means a renewable energy drive that is going full steam ahead. This is well below the levels that were needed in this auction for the UK to reach its target of 55GW of offshore wind by 2030. Our View - the recent auction results are a good step in the right direction after a disastrous few years for offshore wind in the UK. But to meet the UK’s 2030 goals for decarbonising electricity supply, we will need to see a step-change for the next CfD auction rounds. Better still would be to run the auctions every 3 or 6 months, instead of once per year. With an annual round this risk of mis-step is high, as seen in 2023 where there were no bidders. With rounds more frequently, any problems can be quickly corrected in the next round. What do you think? #offshorewind #floatingwind #windenergy Original article by EnergyLiveNews .com https://lnkd.in/ehE2JBQV

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WindStart for employers - training for the wind industry. Hiring new wind technicians is one of the biggest challenges we face in the USA both now and into the future. There is huge growth potential in the wind industry but to achieve it we need to dramatically expand the workforce. Unfortunately hiring new wind technicians is also time consuming and expensive. Firstly there is the recruitment process then the new employee needs to be trained not only to do the job but also they need to gain industry certification - GWO being the main accreditation. Added together and the cost of a new hire at the start of their career is significant, $10's of thousands of dollars. So how do we solve this, how do we create a flow of new people who will stay the course with wind, train them and do it all for a budget that makes sense? WindStart for Employers STL USA has created the WindStart program to address these challenges head-on. WindStart for employers is both a hiring and training solution combined. The program is designed to filter out the best students, train them and give them the core certification required by the wind industry. As a solution is saves employers time and money. WindStart allows employers to streamline their new hire process, reducing fees, admin and risk. The WindStart Training Program The perfect entry point to the wind industry STL USA specializes in teaching new and experienced wind technicians across a variety of disciplines and accreditations. This includes a complete range of GWO accreditations (the industry standard), Qualified Electrical Worker to NFPA 70E and a full spectrum of introductory and intermediate technical courses across all aspects of the common platforms (GE, Siemens, Vestas etc) STL USA has built a reputation for training excellence and quality. That's why companies like GE and Siemens trust STL USA to deliver on training.   How it works From an employers perspective it's super simple. The employer sign-up process simply needs to define how many new hires are required and over what time period alongside any educational requirements and soft skills. STL USA then do the rest, including: Managing a 3-step process which includes a written application, face to face interview and screening Students who pass this are then enrolled onto the training program Once students graduate STL USA then places students into the roles the employer has committed to the program WindStart is designed to be cost efficient for employers, cutting down on hiring expenses, admin, training costs and more. The base fee for employers is $9,000 per role. This includes the entire search, selection application process and 4 weeks training. Training includes over $10,000 of industry accreditation - GWO Basic Safety, GWO Basic Technical, GWO Advanced Rescue, QEW - NFPA 70E and a week long technical intro to wind. The benefits of WindStart are clear. For more information go to https://lnkd.in/eAkv6kGj  

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Building an interlinked North Sea grid is critical to Europe’s offshore wind and net zero ambitions but making this a reality is taking the industry into uncharted waters with razor-fine margins between success and failure, says Rebecca Sedler, head of interconnectors at National Grid. #renewables #windenergy #energytransition #transmission RenewableUK WindEurope https://lnkd.in/eSnrnzjv

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