The role of offshore wind for the energy transition: prospectives and challenges from key industrial and academic players
Moderator: Prof. Davide Astiaso Garcia
Offshore wind (OW) will play a crucial role in the energy transition of our society in the following years, increasing at the same time the energy independence of many countries by the use of their renewable energy sources. In particular, it represents a strategic asset for achieving the European Union's decarbonization and energy transition objectives, as well as a great growth opportunity for the implementation of a European industrial supply chain.
The panel will discuss what are the potentialities of this sector considering the prospectives of the floating OW that is opening new interesting potentialities that were not feasible for bottom fixed technologies, as in many Mediterranean areas, analyzing, on the other hand, the main challenges and barriers that need to be overcome for a successful development of this industrial sector.
The panel includes both academics and key industrial players in the OW sector in order to provide a real and detailed overview of technological, regulatory and economic aspects that affect the development of OW energy at short and long term.
Floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) will undoubtedly play a key role in the future EU energy mix, as they are able to tap into the huge wind energy potential in deep waters. Floating offshore wind is anyhow a relatively new technology, with only few commercial wind farms are currently in operation, and many concepts still in the stage of demonstration projects. This results in several unknowns regarding the actual performance, the final LCOE, and the entire value chain of the technology. The panel discussion will explore some of the main challenges in developing the next generation of FOWTs, with particular reference to their design and simulation. The multi-physics interaction of stochastic loading of wind and waves with the aero-hydro-servo-elastic response, and the unprecedented inflow condition seen at the top of the giant machines of 15+ MW will be related to the design of the new rotors, hopefully tailored to the sea basins in which they will be installed. The resulting design solutions will be then related to the problems of manufacturability and installation, where a discussion will be established with the industrial partners involved in the discussion.
As the global industrial sector strives for decarbonisation, green hydrogen, particularly produced via dedicated and curtailed offshore wind (OSW)-powered electrolysis, emerges as a promising solution. I will delve into the critical role of offshore wind in supporting industrial decarbonisation, and discuss how green hydrogen can achieve cost parity with traditional fuels, using internal interventions, such as waste heat utilization, and external interventions such as market-based policies and private finance (sustainability linked bonds). I applied a novel market penetration assessment model to quantitatively assesses how these interventions can narrow the cost disparity between green hydrogen and its alternatives, sustain economic competitiveness, and stimulate widespread adoption from 2025 through 2050. My findings for the UK show that by leveraging curtailed OSW energy, green hydrogen has the potential to achieve substantial cost reductions, with internal interventions such as waste heat utilization leading to a 17.5% decrease in costs. External market-based policies can further reduce costs by up to 39%, with a combined approach yielding a 63.8% reduction in the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH), bringing it closer to cost parity with natural gas. I will discuss the broader implications of these findings, discussing the necessary policy frameworks, technological innovations, and market dynamics needed to scale green hydrogen adoption globally.
Offshore wind has been a reality in the North Sea for years. Hitachi Energy is one of the leaders in this sector when it comes to high-voltage substations for connecting these large wind farm to the power grid. However, the Mediterranean Sea presents an additional complication because it will require the use of floating high voltage substations (currently, there are no such installations in the world). Hitachi Energy has been working for years on developing products for floating applications. The state of development of Hitachi’s products for such applications will be summarized, and the approach suggested by Hitachi Energy to address the challenges arising from the supply chain will be presented.
In 2024, authorities plan to auction nearly 50GW of offshore wind projects globally. This marks a record in the history of offshore wind energy and shows that government plans for wind power are becoming increasingly ambitious.
But today, the gap between these plans and what is actually done to accelerate them into real wind projects, is widening. At present, offshore auctions are designed with a focus on generating revenue, and not on realising projects. This approach is placing many offshore plans at risk of being delayed or even called off and without a reform, we risk being left with just plans. For a successful energy transition, we have to close this gap between ‘say’ and ‘do’. Vestas is calling for politicians to close the gap between talk and action, by reforming offshore auctions and prioritising the delivery of real offshore projects.
Powering Progress for All: Bridging the Gender Gap in the Energy Field
Moderator: Prof. Carla Montagud Montalvá
The global energy sector faces immense challenges in achieving sustainable and equitable energy access.
The European Green New Deal and the European Gender Equality Strategy are clear messages that both environmental protection and gender equality are priorities for the European Commission. Nevertheless, these strategies lack coordination, and in most cases, the objectives are not addressed together. Policies must address the complexities of gender roles and identities and the root causes of inequality in the climate change context if they aim to be effective and redistributive. Gender studies have highlighted how policies and actions not drafted and planned with a gender perspective tend to produce a gender bias.
The root causes to why women are under-represented in the energy sector must be seen from different perspectives and the reasons for the under-representation are not solely individual preferences. Overall, there are rather social, institutional, and structural barriers related to this. Social barriers for women limit their access to some types of education, training, and employment. Institutional and structural barriers relate to both social constructions including different perceptions about what women should or should not work with, and structures such as hinderance in participation in decision making bodies etc.
Despite the crucial role women can play in developing and implementing innovative energy solutions, gender bias persists also in the energy research field. Women bring unique perspectives to energy challenges. They often have a strong focus on social equity and the needs of vulnerable communities, which are crucial considerations when developing sustainable energy solutions.
While transitioning away from fossil fuels to clean energy sources is crucial to combat climate change, it is not enough. We must also ensure that this transition is just and equitable, leaving no one behind and addressing the specific needs of marginalized communities. This includes gender equality, as women are disproportionately affected by energy poverty and lack of access to clean energy.
This panel discussion will explore the current landscape of gender representation and bias in the Energy field. It will also discuss how to overcome structural barriers to women inclusión in the sector.
Panelists will discuss:
By fostering a more inclusive research environment, we can tap into the full potential of talent and innovation to achieve a more just and sustainable energy future for all.
Gender bias poses significant challenges to the effectiveness and sustainability of energy solutions. This panel discussion highlights the numerous issues that arise from neglecting gender-specific needs and roles, such as inefficiencies, lower adoption rates, and reduced community support. When energy initiatives fail to consider the diverse energy usage patterns and decision-making roles of different genders, they often result in suboptimal outcomes. For example, women, who frequently manage household energy consumption, may have different priorities and usage patterns than men, which are often overlooked in project planning and implementation.
By neglecting these critical aspects, energy projects can inadvertently exacerbate existing social and economic inequalities, further marginalizing certain groups and missing opportunities for greater social and environmental impact. Gender bias in energy projects can lead to the development and deployment of technologies and solutions that do not fully meet the needs of all community members, resulting in reduced effectiveness and sustainability.
This discussion underscores the importance of addressing gender bias in energy projects to avoid these pitfalls. It emphasizes the need for inclusive planning and implementation processes that recognize and integrate the unique perspectives and needs of all genders. By doing so, energy solutions can become more equitable, effective, and widely supported, leading to enhanced community resilience and sustainability. This approach not only promotes social justice but also maximizes the overall impact of energy initiatives on society and the environment.
Women have been underrepresented in university STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields for many years. According to the most recent international reports, about 30% of STEM students are women; more specifically, in the engineering field, this percentage is even lower.
Ensuring that women are equally represented in STEM fields is crucial for several reasons, such as promoting innovation and creativity, driving economic growth and personal independence, breaking down stereotypes, and fostering a more inclusive and equitable society.
Currently, there is a high need for initiatives aimed at inspiring girls and raising awareness of girls' and women's potential. This contribution aims to discuss strategies developed to promote gender equality in STEM courses. Some of them are: mentorship programs (to provide support, guidance, and role models); networking opportunities for female students and researchers (to foster sense of community); awareness campaigns (to encourage more girls and women to consider these carriers); and inclusive educational and research environment (to create a more welcoming atmosphere).
Some ongoing activities at the University of Pisa will be also presented and discussed.
There are different kinds of barriers. For example, women have experienced barriers such as barriers related to limit access to some types of education, training, and employment. There are also lack of role models in leadership. In some countries there is still limited access for women to own land and/or inherit property.
Barriers can be related to individual preferences. However, it is shown that many times the barriers have a structural character such as social constructions including different perceptions about what women should or should not work with, and structures such as hinderance in participation in decision making bodies etc. Internal barriers for gender mainstreaming are for example related to (i) when several perspectives are competing, gender equality is often the loser and (ii) gender issues are sometimes interpreted as “women issues”.
Some promising strategies to be able to take advantage of a variety of competencies and knowledge in our educations, workplaces and in research is to work with gender mainstreaming and equality plans. This includes to create awareness about structural barriers for women inclusion. Further, to plan, implement and monitor activities.
