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Offshore Wind Energy – Sector Growth, Impacts, and Demand for Specialized Vessels

Written by Roberta Souza
Published on 11/02/2021 at 16:28
Energia eólica, offshore, energia
Parque de energia eólica offshore
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The Offshore Wind Energy Sector Grows Every Year. More Than 150 New Wind Projects Are Expected in the Next Five Years

Offshore wind energy is one of the fastest-growing renewable energy sources in recent years. It is clean energy generated from the wind, which captures kinetic energy through the blades of wind turbines and converts it into mechanical energy and electrical energy. However, as projects and their turbines develop, the demand for specialized installation vessels will increase.

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According to Rystad Energy, an independent energy research and business intelligence company, “The market for vessels capable of installing large offshore wind components is being rapidly outpaced by growing demand considering global development. The global fleet will be insufficient to meet demand after 2025, creating opportunities for orders of more specialized vessels and conversions of heavy-lift vessels from the oil and gas sector.”

Advantages and Disadvantages

The pieces of onshore turbines are usually transported by ships and barges, which reduces some logistical difficulties. As there are no tunnels or streets to limit the size of the components that can be passed, offshore turbines tend to be larger and can capture more energy, generating twice the energy compared to onshore wind farms.

However, since they are located at sea, the hiring of specialized vessels for each operation is necessary, and their cost tends to be very high. Tugs are needed to transport the platforms, ROVs for support in anchoring and cabling operations, and crane vessels to lift the parts and assemble the turbine on the platform.

Another advantage is that offshore wind fields tend to produce most of their energy during the day when demand is generally higher, while during night and morning shifts (when demand drops), most onshore oil fields produce energy.

Roberta Souza

Author for the Click Petróleo e Gás portal since 2019, responsible for publishing over 8,000 articles that have garnered millions of views, combining technical expertise, clarity, and engagement to inform and connect readers. A Petroleum Engineer with a postgraduate degree in Industrial Unit Commissioning, I also bring practical experience and background in the agribusiness sector, which broadens my perspective and versatility in producing specialized content. I develop content topics, disseminate job opportunities, and create advertising materials tailored for the industry audience. For content suggestions, job vacancy promotion, or advertising proposals, please contact via email: santizatagpc@gmail.com. We do not accept resumes

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