Energy independence doesn’t come free of charge
Innovations – such as the design and development of bigger and more competitive wind turbines like the SG 14-236 DD – will be fundamental to achieve energy security. But this also comes with a huge R&D investment from wind turbine manufacturers – something which so far isn’t being acknowledged in the auction criteria.
When making the decision on a project-winning developer, it shouldn’t come down just to price. Siemens Gamesa and other OEMs and developers in Europe point to additional qualitative criteria, such as recyclability, technological innovation, project’s carbon footprint or its contribution to the European economy and value creation. This is important for the European wind industry to maintain its competitive advantage, but also to hold manufacturers around the world to higher standards that take the bigger picture into account.
The production of the first power of one of the world’s largest offshore turbines is another proof point in the wind energy discourse. The wind industry has already amply demonstrated its ability to be a key contributor to meeting the major challenge of our times – by achieving energy independence through domestic, clean, and competitive sources.
