The (R)evolution of China: Offshore Wind Diffusion

Abstract

This research presents an industry level gap analysis for Chinese offshore wind, which serves as a way to illuminate how China may fast track industry evolution. The research findings provide insight into how the Chinese government strongly and systematically decrees state-owned Chinese firms to expand into overseas markets to speed up learning efforts. Insights are offered regarding the nation-level strategic plans and institutional support policies mobilized by China in order to be able to conquer market shares internationally by building a strong home market and then facilitating an end-to-end and fully financed export solution. This is interesting in itself and in particular so because it now also includes complex billion-dollar megaprojects such as turnkey offshore wind farm assets with an expected lifespan of 30+ years. Research findings are provided on how European and Chinese firms may successfully forge long-term alliances also for future Chinese wind energy export projects. Examples of past efforts of collaboration not yielding desired results have been included as well. At policy level, recommendations are provided on how the evolution of the Chinese offshore wind power industry can be fast-tracked to mirror the revolutionary pace, volume, and velocity which the Chinese onshore wind power industry has mustered.

An Evaluation of the Wind Energy Resources along the Spanish Continental Nearshore

“…Seeking to highlight the common objective of renewable energies, and in order to quantify the positive ecological impact that the installation of an offshore wind farm would provide to the Spanish nearshore environment, the CO 2 equivalent emissions avoidance parameter was also considered to be of special relevance in this study. From this perspective, Figure 14 shows the results obtained for each of the wind turbines considered when located in each of the 20 study locations, as calculated using Equation (7). The results show how the emission of 15.02 t/MWh would be avoided if turbines V164-8.8 are located in ON7.…”

“…Traditionally, wind farms have been located onshore and great technological development has been achieved for this type of installation, the actual trend being to increase the dimensions of the turbines in order to generate more energy [6]. In recent years, the creation of offshore wind farm projects has also gained increasing importance [7]. The remarkable energetic characteristics of the wind in these coastal areas, where there are normally fewer irregularities and the wind speed is usually higher than onshore, has awakened a general interest for the offshore wind energy [8,9].…”

Continental-scale assessment of the African offshore wind energy potential: Spatial analysis of an under-appreciated renewable energy resource

“…When considering the offshore wind energy generation potential, it is instructive to also contextualise this to the regional framework of the electricity networks. In Africa, this is organised in five power pools that correspond to respective African Regional Economic Communities [56]. Each power pool aims to promote energy trade between its member states.…”

Evaluation of Some State-Of-The-Art Wind Technologies in the Nearshore of the Black Sea

“…A possible way to tackle this issue is to use natural resources (such as solar or geothermal) to secure a sustainable future and limit the effects of fossil fuels products [3][4][5]. One of the most successful sectors is wind energy, which has already demonstrated its technical-economic viability in various parts of the world, being possible to develop projects on land or in the marine environment [6][7][8]. Coastal areas seem to present much higher wind resources than onshore, while the wind turbulences reported in these regions seem to have a lower impact on turbine performance.…”