In a special episode of the Wind Power podcast ahead of next week’s WindEnergy Hamburg conference, Bärbel Heidebroek, president of German wind energy association BWE, analyses government proposals to reform its onshore and offshore wind sectors.

Heidebroek discussed controversial proposals to alleviate grid bottlenecks by cutting curtailment compensation for onshore wind developers and imposing power limits for turbines and warned they could jeopardise the country’s energy independence.  

She also talked about planned reforms to auction design for offshore wind projects and gave her views on the recent electoral success of the far right AfD party in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt.

This episode was produced by Jude Owen and Czarina Deen.

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Jonathan Cole, chief executive of new offshore wind technology company Neretek, talks to the Wind Power podcast about its BC90 foundation technology and the potential for “other deepwater” offshore wind to bridge the gap between fixed-bottom and floating projects.

Cole discusses the UK’s new deepwater auction category, whether the BC90 can compete with floating wind on cost and the opportunities for the technology in other markets.

He also reflects on the challenges facing the wider offshore wind industry.

This episode was produced by Inga Marsden.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eize de Vries, Windpower Monthly’s technology and market trends correspondent, explores the different approaches of Chinese and Western turbine manufacturers to scaling and takes a view on how floating wind can become a commercial reality. 

De Vries gives his opinion on what sort of mindset turbine firm bosses need to adopt to be commercially viable and discusses whether the turbine firms which are enjoying large order intakes today will be the same firms which are successful in the next decade

This episode was produced by Inga Marsden.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the Wind Power News Review – hosted by Windpower Monthly's senior reporter, Robyn White, and Windpower Monthly's reporter, Orlando Jenkinson – along with our regular panellist, Shashi Barla. 

This time on the News Review, we examine the latest prospects for the US wind industry, where states are pushing back against a hostile federal government’s attacks on wind power while popular renewable energy tax credits expire. 

Next, we discuss Sweden’s rejection of 11 offshore wind farms over security concerns as it refocuses on greater state involvement and plans for future auctions.

Moving back to the US, we examine the fallout after blade manufacturer TPI Composites completes its bankruptcy restructuring, and review what might be learned from its recent difficulties. 

Finally, we take a look at two collisions reported in ports servicing offshore wind projects in Denmark and the UK, and discuss how the industry can centre safety in so-called “edge” environments. 

This episode was produced by Inga Marsden.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lord Heseltine tells the story of the birth of the European Space Agency. Why post-Apollo, when the US was spending £1.2 billion a year on space, the whole of Europe was spending just £200 million. Why the birth of ESA was driven by the self-interest of three major countries. Why the US general with a $29 billion budget for the Star Wars project wanted to invest in Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. Why, the idea that Britain could compete alone with the technologies that were accumulated and available to the American capitalist system was “simply laughable”. Why “being European is not selling out British interests”. And why Margaret Thatcher told him: “If you want to get on and put your budget into this, you can, but you're not getting any of mine." 

Join Alice and Lord Heseltine as they pick apart the negotiating contrivances and the wheeling and dealing to circumnavigate “turkeys not voting for Christmas” that ultimately put European space on the map.

Contributors:

Alice Bunn, President of UKspace 

Dr Alice Bunn OBE FIMechE FRAeS CEng | LinkedIn

UKspace: Overview | LinkedIn

Lord Heseltine, Member of the House of Lords

Key topics covered:

• Creation of the European Space Agency (ESA)
• US "Star Wars" program and brain drain
• Geopolitical case for European R&D collaboration
• Impact of Brexit on science and technology

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Welcome to the Wind Power News Review – hosted by Windpower Monthly's senior reporter, Robyn White, and Windpower Monthly's reporter, Orlando Jenkinson – along with our regular panellist, Sorcha Versteeg.

This time, we discuss China’s latest advances in floating offshore wind, as developers unveil increasingly ambitious turbine and platform designs.

In the US, plans for a merger between Dominion Energy and NextEra reshape the country’s renewable energy landscape. But what could the deal mean for a wind sector facing continued political uncertainty?

Back in the UK, the government has approved the 3GW Dogger Bank South offshore wind cluster despite concerns over wake effects on neighbouring projects. How can developers tackle these disputes going forward?

And finally, Chinese wind turbine manufacturers continue to expand their presence in Europe, despite growing political resistance and efforts to strengthen domestic supply chains. Is there still a long-term future for Chinese OEMs in the European market?

This episode was produced by Jude Owen and Inga Marsden.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the final part of a four-episode series recorded at the recent WindEurope conference in Madrid, three floating wind specialists spoke to the Wind Power podcast about the prospects for this technology.

Windpower Monthly editor Ian Griggs spoke to two developers, Hugh Kelly, CEO of Simply Blue Energy and Knut Vassbotn, CEO of Deep Wind Offshore, about whether the current auction models are fit for purpose for this emerging technology.

Meanwhile, Laurent Verdier, chief development officer for the specialist floating wind technology firm, BW Ideol, discussed the likely consolidation of more than 100 players to the most viable companies in the years to come.

This episode was produced by Inga Marsden.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the third of a four-part series recorded at the recent WindEurope conference in Madrid, RWE’s onshore chief, Sopna Sury, spoke to the Wind Power podcast about grid bottlenecks how to engage communities with large energy infrastructure projects

Windpower Monthly editor Ian Griggs also spoke to Sury about the opportunities and challenges of the AI age and what it means for the wind industry – and future electricity consumption.

This episode was produced by Inga Marsden.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second of a four-part series recorded at last month’s WindEurope conference in Madrid, Tara Singh, CEO of Renewable UK, talks to the Wind Power podcast about the current global energy crisis and how that makes the case for increasing the focus on renewables.

Windpower Monthly editor Ian Griggs spoke to Singh about the political outlook for wind power in the UK and about how the industry should respond to anti-wind narratives.

Singh also discussed how she would respond to US president Donald Trump’s ‘drill baby, drill’ mantra.

This episode was produced by Inga Marsden.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first of a four-part series recorded at last month’s WindEurope conference in Madrid, Girish Tanti, co-founder and vice chairman of Suzlon, talks to the Wind Power podcast about returning to the European market with the company’s new 'Blue Sky' platform. 

In an interview recorded only 24 hours after the company launched its new Blue Sky turbine platform, Windpower Monthly editor Ian Griggs spoke to Tanti about how he rated Suzlon’s chances of being chosen by developers to power European projects against the bloc’s established incumbents.

Tanti also discussed the specific challenges in the European market and whether the EU is currently a good trading environment for non-western turbine manufacturers.

This episode was produced by Inga Marsden.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.