The Anonymous Widower

RWE Underlines Commitment To Floating Offshore Wind In The Celtic Sea Through New ‘Vision’ Document

The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from RWE.

These are the three bullet points.

• Offshore floating wind in the Celtic Sea could unlock 3,000 jobs and £682 million in supply chain opportunities by 2030
• RWE is targeting the development at least 1GW of floating wind in the region
• Using experience from demonstrator projects and partnerships with local supply chain to strengthen ambitions

These opening three paragraphs outline more of RWE’s vision.

RWE, the world’s second largest offshore wind player and largest generator of clean power in Wales, has unveiled its vision for the future of floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea region and the opportunities it presents from new large-scale, commercial projects. Entitled “RWE’s Vision for the Celtic Sea”, the document was unveiled during day one of the Marine Energy Wales conference, in Swansea, where RWE is the Platinum Sponsor.

RWE sees floating wind technology as the next frontier in the development of the offshore wind sector, and which could potentially unlock a multi-billion pound opportunity for the broader Celtic Sea region and the UK.

Studies anticipate the first GW of floating wind to be developed in the Celtic Sea could potentially deliver around 3,000 jobs and £682 million in supply chain opportunities for Wales and the south west of England. Against this backdrop, it’s anticipated the technology could unlock a resurgence in Welsh industry, helping to decarbonise industry and transport, spur on academic innovation, and spearhead the growth of a new, highly skilled workforce.

Reading further down, there are these statements.

• RWE will be bidding in the upcoming Celtic Sea auction with the aim of securing at least 1 gigawatt (GW) of installed capacity, to be developed throughout the 2020’s.
• The Celtic Sea region is pivotal to RWE’s ‘Growing Green’ strategy in the UK, where we expect to invest £15 billion in clean energy infrastructure by 2030.
• A cooperation agreement with Tata SteelUK to understand and explore the production of steel components that could be used in high-tech floating wind foundations and structures for projects in the Celtic Sea.
• The company has also signed agreements with ABP Port Talbot, the Port of Milford Haven and Marine Power Systems of Swansea, to explore opportunities for building the supply chain for floating wind.
• RWE is the largest power producer and renewable energy generator in Wales with more than 3GW of energy across 11 sites.
• If successful in the leasing round, RWE’s Celtic Sea projects will also play a key role in the development of RWE’s Pembroke Net Zero Centre, as well as decarbonizing wider industrial processes and transportation across South Wales.

It looks like RWE are very serious about the Celtic Sea and Pembrokeshire.

Pembroke Net Zero Centre

The Pembroke Net Zero Centre looks to be a powerful beast.

It will be located at the 2200 MW Pembroke power station, which is the largest gas-fired power station in Europe.

These are the first two paragraphs on its web page.

RWE is a world leader in renewables, a market leader in the development of offshore wind and a key driver of the global energy transition. In turn, Pembroke is looking to continue its transformation as part of a decarbonisation hub under the title of the PNZC, linking-up with new innovative technologies needed for a low carbon future, including hydrogen production, Carbon Capture and Storage and floating offshore wind.

The PNZC will bring together all areas of the company’s decarbonisation expertise, including innovation, offshore wind, power engineering, trading and the development/operation of highly technical plants.

The page also talks of burning hydrogen in the power station and an initial 100-300 MW ‘pathfinder’ electrolyser on the Pembroke site.

Conclusion

In some ways, RWE are following a similar philosophy in the area, to that being pursued by SSE at Keadby on Humberside.

As The Crown Estate is talking of 4 GW in the Celtic Sea, it looks like RWE are positioning Pembroke to be the backup, when the wind doesn’t blow.

March 22, 2023 - Posted by AnonW | Energy, Hydrogen | Celtic Sea, Electrolysis, Floating Wind Power, Green Hydrogen, Keadby Power Stations, Offshore Wind Power, Pembroke Net Zero Centre, Pembroke Power Station, RWE