Exploring the itinerary of a floating wind conference in Aberdeen this week. The sector is convening and, looking at the programme, there’s interesting subject material for discussion.
There are sessions around moorings which are causing concern off the coast of Wales and ‘deep dives’, on dynamic cabling. What is the point of going down and, trenching through the seabed. and then back up – when it is unnecessary.
So, a good thing to discuss but the problem is that there’s some Deja vu. I remember a decade ago, the very same issue, perhaps belying its name, being discussed. What exactly has happened in the intervening 10 years in what is supposed to be an innovative and dynamic sector?
The sessions look interesting, the stalls are booked, the glossy brochures printed but, without wishing to spoil the party, it’s taking place on the back of political changes of direction and sectoral disappointment since Glasgow.
Some of it almost at the doorstep of delegates:
Has-aberdeens-world-first-dolphyn-hydrogen-project-sunk
The implications of this stark headline, can be coupled with the non-progression of Gigastack a failed bidding auction for offshore wind support in the last couple of weeks.
Aberdeen perhaps offers a reality check for the industry starting again with the location itself, it may be interesting to know what is not being discussed as much as that which is.
DolpHYn, for example, should have been much further advanced by this stage. floating-wind-hydrogen-lhyfe-dolphyn
Reviewing the published materials:
Despite the dramatic Press and Journal headline about being ‘dead in the water; Dolphyn, the innovative British hope, does appear to be happening albeit in reduced form hundreds of miles south off the Welsh port of Milford Haven. Even there the Celtic Sea Cluster is dealing with issues around moorings for floating wind turbines.
I just finished training a senior cohort of The Americans driving forwards the sector there is momentum around the world which I’ve also been sharing the community.
Global potential for floating wind is eye popping. The United States, New Zealand and Canada are making their own moves and investigating massive resources which they’re going to exploit in coming years.
ScotWind, the Floating Wind leasing round was itself delivered three years late and other parts of the world are catching the UK. It’s a shame that the impetus in Scotland, which could have been the world leader, seems to be dissipating. A decade discussing ironically, dynamic cabling, an exemplar
Dolphyn however is not moribund but is clearly gravitating southwards with trials scheduled off South Wales. The Celtic Sea is much nearer to Europe and synergies with the French floating aspirations exemplified with the already operational Lhyfe hydrogen turbine.
There are a couple of bright spots I was pleased to see project sHYp , with which I had personal involvement in driving forwards open an office in the Granite City and one with global resonance.
Let’s hope the sector proves resilient one so I’m sure that other countries will likely experience their own issues and delays.
Let’s see where now the sector goes if other countries have taken the lead, it may leave us as Intellectual Property IP possessors perhaps advising other countries – but certainly the UK wants to be a world leader with global anchor status.
It’s all very well to come up with pipeline networks and cabling networks to the continent but the fact is that Scotland has a long way from European markets and the transportation issue a cost yet to be resolved.
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