My opinion is clear: we should not stop innovating, but larger turbines are not the answer for now, and they aren’t yet ready for widespread use. Readiness for larger turbines is only given, if the growth in dimension and cost is sufficiently offset by substantial gains in revenue. Especially in tough times for planning and developing offshore windfarms, the goal must be to provide developers with the most investable business cases, as only the most valuable projects will make it to realisation.
Plus, the supply chain readiness: talking about installation tools, vessels, port capacities and infrastructure for these heavier turbines have to be established in parallel. Investments must be made, and to get a return on these a certain number of turbines must be installed.
Right now, we have not even fully entered the industrialisation phase for the largest turbines currently available, the 15MW class. When you use a new type of turbines for every project, then everything becomes a prototype – with benefits, but also with all the risks. At RWE, we collect dozens of data points and specific knowledge which we use to steadily improve and foster innovation – together with our partners and suppliers.
It’s in the industry’s own interest to improve through innovation. But for me, the current top priority is to make offshore wind more cost-efficient: by making the most out of the technology we currently have. The industrialisation of technologies will lead to long-term and sustainable innovation.
