The Anonymous Widower

RWE Goes For An Additional 10 GW Of Offshore Wind In UK Waters In 2030

This press release from RWE is entitled RWE And Masdar Join Forces To Develop 3 Gigawatts Of Offshore Wind Projects Off The UK Coast.

This is the last paragraph.

The UK plays a key role in RWE’s strategy to grow its offshore wind portfolio RWE is a leading partner in the delivery of the UK’s Net Zero ambitions and energy security, as well as in contributing to the UK build-out target for offshore wind of 50 GW by 2030. RWE already operates 10 offshore wind farms across the UK. Following completion of the acquisition of the three Norfolk offshore wind projects from Vattenfall announced at the end of 2023, RWE is developing nine offshore wind projects in the UK, representing a combined potential installed capacity of around 9.8 GW, with RWE’s pro rata share amounting to 7 GW. Furthermore, RWE is constructing the 1.4 GW Sofia offshore wind project in the North Sea off the UK’s east coast. RWE’s unparalleled track record of more than 20 years in offshore wind has resulted in 19 offshore wind farms in operation, with a goal to triple its global offshore wind capacity from 3.3 GW today to 10 GW in 2030.

Note.

1. Nine offshore wind projects in the UK, representing a combined potential installed capacity of around 9.8 GW
2. RWE are saying they intend to add 6.7 GW in 2030.

The eight offshore wind farms, that RWE are developing in UK waters would appear to be.

• Sofia – 1,400 MW
• Norfolk Boreas – 1380 MW
• Norfolk Vanguard East – 1380 MW
• Norfolk Vanguard West – 1380 MW
• Dogger Bank South – 3000 MW
• Awel y Môr – 500 MW
• Five Estuaries – 353 MW
• North Falls – 504 MW

This is a total of 9897 MW, which ties in well with RWE’s new capacity figure of 9.8 GW.

The Location Of RWE’s Offshore Wind Farms

RWE’s wind farms seem to fit in groups around the UK.

Dogger Bank

This wind farm is on the Dogger Bank.

• Dogger Bank South – 3000 MW – Planned

This wind farm would appear to be rather isolated in the middle of the North Sea.

RWE could have plans to extend it or even link it to other wind farms in the German area of the Dogger Bank.

Lincolnshire Coast

This wind farm is along the Lincolnshire Coast.

• Triton Knoll – 857 MW – 2022

As there probably isn’t much heavy industry, where Triton Knoll’s power comes ashore, this wind farm can provide the power needed in the area.

But any excess power in the area can be exported to Denmark through the Viking Link.

Norfolk Coast

These wind farms are along the Norfolk Coast.

• Norfolk Boreas – 1380 MW – Planned
• Norfolk Vanguard East – 1380 MW – Planned
• Norfolk Vanguard West – 1380 MW – Planned

These three wind farms will provide enough energy to provide the power for North-East Norfolk.

North Wales Coast

These wind farms are along the North Wales Coast.

• Awel y Môr – 500 MW – Planned
• Gwynt y Môr – 576 MW – 2015
• Rhyl Flats  – 90 MW – 2009
• North Hoyle – 60 MW – 2003

These wind farms will provide enough energy for the North Wales Coast.

Any spare electricity can be stored in the 1.8 GW/9.1 GWh Dinorwig pumped storage hydroelectric power station.

Electric Mountain may have opened in 1984, but it is surely a Welsh giant decades ahead of its time.

Suffolk Coast

These wind farms are along the Suffolk Coast.

• Five Estuaries – 353 MW – Planned
• Galloper – 353 MW – 2018
• North Falls – 504 MW – Planned

These wind farms will provide enough energy for the Suffolk Coast, which except for the Haven Ports, probably doesn’t have many large electricity users.

But if the area is short of electricity, there will be Sizewell B nuclear power station to provide it.

Teesside

This wind farm is along the Teesside Coast

• Sofia – 1,400 MW – Planned

Teesside is a heavy user of electricity.

These six areas total as follows.

• Dogger Bank – 3,000 MW
• Lincolnshire Coast – 857 MW
• Norfolk Coast – 4140 MW
• North Wales Coast – 1226 MW
• Suffolk Coast – 1210 MW
• Teesside – 1,400 MW

Backup for these large clusters of wind farms for when the wind doesn’t blow will be provided as follows.

• Dogger Bank – Not provided
• Lincolnshire Coast- Interconnectors to Denmark and Scotland
• Norfolk Coast – Not provided
• North Wales Coast – Stored in Dinorwig pumped storage hydroelectric power station
• Suffolk Coast – Sizewell B and Sizewell C
• Teesside – Interconnectors to Norway and Scotland and Hartlepool nuclear power stations

Note.

1. The interconnectors will typically have a 2 GW capacity.
2. The 1.9 GW/9.1 GWh Dinorwig pumped storage hydroelectric power station must be one of the best wind farm backups in Europe.

There is a very solid level of integrated and connected assets that should provide a reliable power supply for millions of electricity users.

How Will Dogger Bank And The Norfolk Coast Wind Clusters Work Efficiently?

The Dogger Bank and the Norfolk Coast clusters will generate up to 3 and 4.14 GW respectively.

So what purpose is large amounts of electricity in the middle of the North Sea?

The only possible purpose will be to use giant offshore electrolysers to create hydrogen.

The hydrogen will then be transported to point of use by pipeline or tanker.

Feeding H2ercules

I described H2ercules in H2ercules.

H2ercules is an enormous project that will create the German hydrogen network.

The H2ercules web site, shows a very extensive project, as is shown by this map.

Note.

1. Hydrogen appears to be sourced from Belgium, the Czech Republic, The Netherlands and Norway.
2. RWE’s Dogger Bank South wind farm will be conveniently by the N of Norway.
3. RWE’s Norfolk cluster of wind farms will be conveniently by the N of Netherlands.
4. The Netherlands arrow points to the red circles of two hydrogen import terminals.

For Germany to regain its former industrial success, H2ercules  will be needed to be fed with vast amounts of hydrogen.

And that hydrogen could be in large amounts from the UK sector of the North Sea.

Uniper’s Wilhelmshaven Hydrogen Hub

This page on the Uniper web site is entitled Green Wilhelmshaven: To New Horizons

This Uniper graphic shows a summary of gas and electricity flows in the Wilhelmshaven Hydrogen Hub.

Note.

1. Ammonia can be imported, distributed by rail or ships, stored or cracked to provide hydrogen.
2. Wilhelmshaven can handle the largest ships.
3. Offshore wind energy can generate hydrogen by electrolysis.
4. Hydrogen can be stored in underground salt caverns.

I suspect hydrogen could also be piped in from an electrolyser in the East of England or shipped in by a hydrogen tanker.

All of this is well-understood technology.

Sunak’s Magic Money Tree

Rishi Sunak promised a large giveaway of tax in his manifesto for the 2024 General Election.

As we are the only nation, who can provide the colossal amounts of hydrogen the Germans will need for H2ercules, I am sure we will be well paid for it.

A few days ago we celebrated D-Day, where along with the Americans and the Canadians, we invaded Europe.

Now eighty years later, our hydrogen is poised to invade Europe again, but this time for everybody’s benefit.

This document on the Policy Mogul web site is entitled Rishi Sunak – Conservative Party Manifesto Speech – Jun 11.

These are three paragraphs from the speech.

We don’t just need military and border security. As Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has shown, we need energy security too. It is only by having reliable, home-grown sources of energy that we can deny dictators the ability to send our bills soaring. So, in our approach to energy policy we will put security and your family finances ahead of unaffordable eco zealotry.

Unlike Labour we don’t believe that we will achieve that energy security via a state-controlled energy company that doesn’t in fact produce any energy. That will only increase costs, and as Penny said on Friday there’s only one thing that GB in Starmer and Miliband’s GB Energy stands for, and that’s giant bills.

Our clear plan is to achieve energy security through new gas-powered stations, trebling our offshore wind capacity and by having new fleets of small modular reactors. These will make the UK a net exporter of electricity, giving us greater energy independence and security from the aggressive actions of dictators . Now let me just reiterate that, with our plan, we will produce enough electricity to both meet our domestic needs and export to our neighbours. Look at that. A clear, Conservative plan not only generating security, but also prosperity for our country.

I believe that could be Rishi’s Magic Money Tree.

Especially, if the energy is exported through electricity interconnectors or hydrogen or ammonia pipelines and tankers.

Will This Be A Party Anyone Can Join?

Other wind farm clusters convenient for the H2ercules hydrogen import terminals on the North-West German coast include.

• Dogger Bank – SSE, Equinor – 5008 MW
• East Anglian – Iberdrola – 3786 MW
• Hornsea – Ørsted – 8056 MW

That totals to around 16.5 GW of wind power.

I can see offshore electrolysers producing hydrogen all around the coasts of the British Isles.

What Happens If Sunak Doesn’t Win The Election?

RWE and others have signed contracts to develop large wind farms around our shores.

They didn’t do that out of the goodness of their hearts, but to make money for themselves and their backers and shareholders.

Conclusion

I believe a virtuous circle will develop.

• Electricity will be generated in the UK.
• Some will be converted to hydrogen.
• Hydrogen and electricity will be exported to the highest bidders.
• European industry will, be powered by British electricity and hydrogen.
• Money will be paid to the UK and the energy suppliers for the energy.

The more energy we produce, the more we can export.

In the future more interconnectors, wind farms and electrolysers will be developed.

Everybody will benefit.

As the flows grow, this will certainly become a Magic Money Tree, for whoever wins the election.

June 9, 2024 Posted by AnonW | Energy, Hydrogen | Awel y Môr Winf Farm, Ørsted, D-Day, Dinorwig Power Station (Electric Mountain), Dogger Bank South Wind Farm, Equinor, Five Estuaries Wind Farm, General Election 2024, Green Ammonia, H2ercules, Iberdrola, Interconnectors, Norfolk Boreas Wind Farm, Norfolk Vanguard Wind Farm, North Falls Wind Farm, Offshore Hydrogen Production, Offshore Wind Power, Rishi Sunak, RWE, Scotland, Sizewell B Nuclear Power Station, Sizewell C Construction, Sofia Wind Farm, SSE Renewables, Triton Knoll Wind Farm, Viking Link, Wind Power | 3 Comments