"This year's WINDFORCE Conference, the international class reunion of the offshore wind industry, offers a special reason to celebrate: the WAB will honour the 20th anniversary of its association on 20 June 2022. As an established industry association and innovation cluster, we are delighted to join old and new WAB members, friends of the WAB and political companions in honouring the industry's development into the foundation of the energy transition. That's why we're bringing pioneers from the very beginning onto the stage at the conference," said Jens Assheuer, WAB e.V. Chairman of the Board.
"With international guests and national experts, the international sustainable development of the offshore wind supply industry is at the centre of the conference," said WAB e.V. Managing Director Heike Winkler." At a time when the new German government is redefining the targets and rules for the expansion of offshore wind energy and for 'green' hydrogen, the dialogue between the stakeholders involved is of great importance. The expansion to at least 70 gigawatts of offshore wind in Germany by 2045 will succeed if the right course is set now for skilled workers and for the offshore wind supply industry and the maritime industry," said Winkler. "In addition to the long-term expansion targets for offshore wind power, we are looking forward to the industry's innovations in twelve sessions on O&M, offshore wind turbines with fixed and floating foundations, and the combination of offshore wind and green hydrogen. Discuss and celebrate with us in June!" she added.
Infrastructure plays an important role in the expansion of offshore wind energy, especially the ports. "The German energy transition can only succeed with the ports. Efficient port infrastructures are necessary both for the ambitious expansion plan of the Federal Government for offshore wind power and for the development of value chains for 'green' hydrogen. It is therefore essential that planning and approval procedures continue to be accelerated and that port locations also receive federal support for investments in their infrastructure," said Dr Claudia Schilling, Bremen's Senator for Science and Ports.
It is also important that the accelerated grid expansion succeeds. "Increasing the expansion targets by 2030 is very ambitious, but at the same time a great opportunity for Germany," said Tim Meyerjürgens, COO of TenneT Holding, Managing Director of TenneT TSO and WAB Board Member. "Offshore wind energy is the key to climate neutrality, energy and supply security. From our point of view, it is not so crucial to only look at the 30 gigawatts in 2030, but it is important that we implement a continuous acceleration in order to also achieve the long-term goals. Politicians are now called upon to quickly adjust the framework conditions for planning, approval and construction so that a real acceleration is possible, for example by dispensing with regional planning procedures whenever possible and sensible or by widening the construction time windows for cable laying," he added.
"Another key point to consider in order for the strong acceleration of wind turbine expansion to succeed is the need for skilled labour," said Matthias Brandt, CEO of Deutsche Windtechnik AG and member of the WAB board. "Here, too, economic, labour and education policy must go hand in hand with energy policy. A few wasted years must be made up for. Companies are ready to get even more involved in this area. Potential solutions such as training, qualification, sector transfer or managed skilled labour immigration have been available for years and must also be flanked."
Interdisciplinary and international exchange has always played a central role in the 20 years of the WAB and in the development of the offshore wind industry. The partner country France, where the first large commercial offshore wind project is currently being built, is organising the French session. The French way in offshore wind energy development with emphasis on domestic value creation is an interesting approach to foster employment creation and qualification. The industrial policy potentials in offshore wind energy development seem to be of higher importance in the neighbouring country.
"France and Germany have been strong partners for decades, especially in the field of energy, a foundation of European cooperation. We, as the French Wind Energy Association, are very pleased that the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, has set high targets for offshore wind energy to achieve CO2 neutrality. Specifically: 40 gigawatts by 2050. Both countries can build competitive and complementary value chains. On the one hand, the experience of the German wind industry is significant and useful for all, on the other hand, France is a pioneer in the development of floating wind turbines. This means that we can only be successful together. The WINDFORCE Conference is the perfect opportunity to emphasize and prove this," said Matthieu Monnier, FEE Deputy Managing Director.
"With the Bremerhaven Lloyd Werft, thanks to the support of the Rönner Group, we have found a venue that best underscores the issues that are essential for us to optimise the Federal Government's Easter package: fair competition, sustainable value creation and employment as well as target-oriented infrastructure measures and a comprehensive qualification offensive along the entire value chain. We are counting on the German government to improve the draft of the Wind Energy at Sea Act in order to jointly exploit the potential for climate-friendly electricity generation at sea and sustainable value creation potential. In addition to the priority of climate protection, it is also about value creation and jobs in Germany. We need a qualification offensive, financing instruments for the offshore wind supply industry and quality criteria in the commercial tenders," said WAB Managing Director Heike Winkler.
For the participants of the conference, several excursions offer excellent opportunities to get to know the expertise of our member companies at first hand. The dinner with French flair offers the opportunity to deepen old and new contacts in a pleasant and festive atmosphere.
Link to the conference programme:
bit.ly/Windforce-Programm-2022
Speakers that have already confirmed their attendance (in alphabetical order):
- Jannik Barthel, Fraunhofer IWES
- Stefan Böning, Tennet TSO
- Dirk Briese, wind:research
- Arjen Goorse Carneades Hydrogen
- Marcel Diekmann, Ems Maritime Offshore
- Werner Diwald, Deutscher Wasserstoff- und Brennstoffzellen-Verband e.V. (DWV)
- Prof. Dr. Silke Eckardt, Hochschule Bremen
- Andrea Fehr, TSR Recycling
- Achim Fischer-Erdsiek, NordWest Assekuranzmakler
- Luc Graré, Lhyfe
- Jérôme Guillet, Offshore Wind Expert
- Henrik Hansen, Wind Multiplikator
- Malte Hippe, Ørsted Wind Power Germany
- Dirk Jan Hummel, Offshore Wind Innovation Centre
- Markus Hummel, mH2 Offshore
- Hendrik Köhler, Amprion
- Dr. Bernhard Lange, Fraunhofer IWES
- Karolina Lipińska, Office of the Marshal of the Pomorskie Voivodeship
- Dr. Martin P. Lögering, Lebhuhn & Puchta
- Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Lukas Hochschule Bremerhaven
- Holger Matthiesen, Aker Offshore Wind Europe
- Florian Merlet, Kongstein
- Tim Meyerjürgens, TenneT Holding BV
- Karsten Merker, MingYang Europe
- Johannes Müller, Deutsche Windtechnik
- Telsche Nielsen-Lange, Fraunhofer IWES
- Ingolf Rauschenbach, 8.2 digital solutions
- Marco Scharobe, RE:Solut
- Dr. Claudia Schilling, Die Senatorin für Wissenschaft und Häfen des Landes Bremen
- Prof. Dr. Martin Skiba, World Forum Offshore Wind
- Ursula Smolka, Ramboll
- Ole Stobbe, BW Ideol
- Kristina Vogt, Die Senatorin für Wirtschaft, Arbeit und Europa
- Tobias Voigt, Carneades Project Services
- Carsten Wibel, Abeking & Rasmussen
- Mariusz Witonski, Polish Offshore Wind Energy Society PTMEW
- Thomas Zapp, GreenGate
- Manuel Zehr,Formosan Business Support
- Sarah Zwick, Fraunhofer IWES
Also requested: BMWK, bremenports, BSH, Chantiers de l'Atlantique, EnBW, Prysmian, Vestas and many more.
Our session moderators:
- Eize de Vries, Windpower Monthly
- Eike Grünhagen, WAB e.V.
- Jean Huby, Ocean Breeze
- Marc Itgen, Agentur für Wirtschaftsförderung Cuxhaven
- Matthieu Monnier, FEE
- Telsche Nielsen-Lange, Fraunhofer IWES
- Annette Nüsslein, RDR Wind
- Randy Tinkerman, Wind Power Managemen
- Dr. Sigurd Weise, Jörss-Blunck-Ordemann
- Heike Winkler, WAB e.V.
The conference is already supported by:
- Bremerhavener Gesellschaft für Investitionsförderung und Stadtentwicklung mbH
- Carneades
- Deutsche Windtechnik
- Dost Group
- Grillo Zinacor
- Helmut Müller GmbH
- Hytorc Barbarino & Kilp GmbH
- Lloyd Werft
- maexpartners
- NW Assekuranz
- Ørsted
- PNE
- RelyOn Nutec
- RWE
- Steelwind Nordenham
- TenneT
- Trident Archäolgie
- WindMW
Picture - Courtesy of © Jan Oelker
The WINDFORCE and COVID-19
"With the Lloyd shipyard in Bremerhaven, we will also meet for the 18th WINDFORCE Conference in a location where we can comply with all the required distance regulations. We have already gained valuable experience with conferences under corona conditions and will also work on a hygiene concept this year in coordination with the local authorities, which we will continuously supplement, refine and update in the coming weeks," said Heike Winkler.
About WAB e.V.:
The WAB, based in Bremerhaven, is the nationwide contact for the offshore wind industry, the onshore network in the Northwest and promotes the production of "green" hydrogen from wind power. The association includes around 250 smaller and larger companies as well as institutes from all areas of the wind industry, the maritime industry and research. www.wab.net
Contact:
Hans-Dieter Sohn | Senior Communications and Marketing Manager WAB e.V. | +49 173 2382802 | hans.sohn @ wab.net
