Global Floating Wind Industry Flexes Its Muscles, Trump Or Not

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Beginning in the early 2000’s, US taxpayers devoted many millions of dollars to support new floating wind turbine technology, enabling many more gigawatts of clean power to be harvested from offshore sites. Too bad all that blood, sweat, and tears went to waste after US President Donald Trump blew up the domestic offshore wind industry upon retaking office last year. However, it’s a big world out there…

California Grabs The Floating Wind Ball Dropped By Trump

Oh the irony, it burns. Once upon a time, the global effort to develop new floating offshore wind turbine platforms was vigorously supported here in the US, steered by the Department of Energy with private sector partners. Some of those domestic partners — Principle Power is one leading example — have been plying their wares in overseas markets for lack of opportunities and supportive policies here in the US.

As for commercial-level prospects in the US, the waters of coastal California offer the low-hanging fruit. Much of the coast is too deep for the fixed-in-seabed monopiles used in conventional offshore wind farms. The solution is to set the turbines on floating platforms, which can be tethered to the seabed by slim cables (see more floating turbine background here).

As the fourth-largest economy in the world, California is determined to take advantage of its generous offshore wind resources. The state has affirmed a near-term goal of 25 gigawatts, Trump or no Trump. California is also a member of the Global Offshore Wind Alliance, smoothing the way for collaboration with other leading floating wind stakeholders including Norway and Japan, among others.

The Latest News From Norway, And Japan

The Norway-Japan connection was reinforced on May 28, when the organization Norwegian Offshore Wind announced an agreement with the Japanese-headquartered institution Floating Offshore Wind Technology Research Association. The new partnership builds on previous work joining the economic development agency Innovation Norway and FLOWRA.

The Chairperson of FLOWRA’s Board of Directors, Masakatsu Terazaki, describes how the two partners can combine resources to accelerate floating wind uptake globally, particularly in regards to Norway’s industry-leading METCentre (Marine Energy Test Centre) demonstration facility.

“By combining the efforts and expertise of NOW and FLOWRA, we trust that we can accelerate the development of fundamental technologies for floating offshore wind, as well as the establishment of validation and assessment methodologies,” Terazaki observed in a press statement.

“Furthermore, by supporting the formation of the supply chain, we aim to contribute to the expansion of the floating offshore wind market and, ultimately, to the realization of a sustainable society,” he emphasized.

NOW underscored the point, noting that offshore wind is a “truly global industry.

“Norway and Japan have many similarities as offshore wind nations — in both countries, the greatest long-term potential lies in deep waters and floating offshore wind.” NOW further noted.

China Sees Green Gold In Europe’s Floating Wind Industry

As if on cue, on May 28 the Ming Yang Europe branch of China’s Ming Yang Smart Energy announced that it has become a member of NOW.

“The membership underlines Ming Yang’s commitment to building deep, long-term partnerships with the European offshore wind community, and in particular with Norway, a country that pioneered floating offshore wind technology,” Ming Yang Europe explained in a statement emailed to CleanTechnica (further details available here).

“This partnership aligns perfectly not only with Ming Yang’s strategy to integrate deeper into the European offshore wind ecosystem, but also with Norwegian Offshore Wind’s strategic focus on internationalization,” Ming Yang emphasizes, referring to global supply chains among other elements of collaboration.

Ming Yang also draws attention to NOW’s metamorphosis from a regional economic development cluster into a multinational organization, with 20% of its members from outside of Norway. The international outreach mirrors efforts in nearby Germany, where the German Offshore Wind Association has also accepted Ming Yang Europe as a member.

China’s attempts to crack the European market have met with some resistance, but with Ming Yang Europe in its pocket the prospects have improved. Besides, there is plenty to go around in the North Sea alone. Earlier this year the governments attending the North Sea Summit committed to a near-term goal of 100 gigawatts in the North Sea, towards a 2050 target of 300 gigawatts.

Release The Offshore Wind Kracken!

China also refers to itself as sitting among the “global technology leaders” of the world, and therein lies a tale.

As the parent of Ming Yang Europe, Ming Yang Smart Energy brings a portfolio of 25,000 wind turbines installed globally to the table, highlighted by the OceanX floating wind platform, the largest such offshore platform of its kind alongside a gigantic 50-megawatt floating turbine.

Underscoring the firm’s headline-grabbing achievements, NOW CEO Arvid Nesse welcomed Ming Yang Europe to the organization with an emphasis on advanced technology as well as globalization.

“Our mission is to build world leading supply chains for floating offshore wind, and that mission is inherently international. Ming Yang brings significant technological capability and operational track record in offshore and floating wind, and our members will benefit from that exchange,” Nesse remarked.

Meanwhile, Here In The USA…

Circling back around to California, last August the state entered into a new partnership with Denmark, under a Memorandum of Understanding covering clean tech and resilience.

“Home to Silicon Valley and the world’s fourth largest economy, California is uniquely positioned to lead the international conversation and help guide the world in the responsible implementation and use of emerging technology,” California Governor Gavin Newsom emphasized.