150 GW in the North Sea and 90 GW in the Baltic Sea are the political ambitions for offshore wind energy. That should make a subcontractor to the wind turbine industry rejoice. But the hands are not locked above the head at Danish PolyTech, which supplies exclusively to the wind turbine industry.
After a good year this year in 2020, the company has actually had to say goodbye to staff in both 2021 and 2022, despite the great political ambitions.
- We see a lot of growth measured in MW, but we don't see a particularly large growth in the number of units, says Mads Kirkegaard, CEO of PolyTech, in a presentation at the Danish Offshore Industry Conference, which is taking place in Esbjerg.
Because despite the fact that within a short time, there will be a large expansion of offshore wind, the number of turbines that will supply the energy will largely remain constant at around 2400 units worldwide up to 2027, according to forecasts. The turbines have become much larger and more efficient in a short time.
- In terms of energy technology, it is smart that there is more effect on the turbines, for PolyTech it is a challenge. So we need to have more products per turbine if the money is to be made, says Mads Kirkegaard.
More volume requires standardization
The approximately 2,400 turbines that are to be delivered within a short period of time will roughly be delivered by five or six manufacturers worldwide, says the director.
- The five or six suppliers will therefore have to share 2,400 products. That is not very many per wind turbine manufacturer. And the wind turbine manufacturers have not been particularly good at standardizing, he says.
The lack of standardization is a challenge for PolyTech, as developing products requires many expensive man-hours. And the turbine manufacturers that will deliver the turbines have, according to Mads Kirkegaard, many different ways of making, for example, wind turbine blades.
- In order to afford to develop some good technology, we need some volume. There is not much across wind turbines that is standardized and similar, the concern is.
That is why Mads Kirkegaard also has a desire for standardization among wind turbine manufacturers, which he believes is shared by several subcontractors.
- We would like to be able to standardize the technology on the turbines, is the wish of the director.
Believe in changes in the industry
However, according to Mads Kirkegaard, it will be the industry itself that must solve the problem; political interference to create standards is of no use here.
- The help will not come from politics, he says.
If it is not possible to get more standardization on the agenda in the industry, Kirkegaard fears that it could have consequences for the green transition.
- I believe that the green transition will drag on and will not be introduced to the extent that is needed. And we depend on that, he says.
However, he believes in improvement in the area.
- The industry needs to mature a bit, it is a relatively young industry and engineering-heavy. The volume has been large, and there has been good reason for each manufacturer to have their own ideas, says Kirkegaard and continues:
- But we have to move away from that if we are to make some cheaper and better turbines and some that can produce a little more electricity. So what we are talking about with the manufacturers is to get some standards made.
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