WINDFORCE Conference opens in Bremerhaven

Bremerhaven (renewablepress) - The WINDFORCE Conference opens its doors today in Bremerhaven for the thirteenth time. In twelve theme blocks decision makers and experts will be discussing the most important developments in the offshore wind sector with national and international representatives from the industry. Taking centre stage are the spectacularly low results of the first tendering round for offshore wind energy. Andreas Wellbrock, Managing Director of WAB e.V., Rainer Baake, Secretary of State at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, Martin Günthner, Senator for Economic Affairs, Labour and Ports in Bremen and Dr Markus Tacke, Managing Director of Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energies, will be welcoming participants to the conference. This year´s conference patron is Brigitte Zypries, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs.

The results of the Federal Network Agency´s first tendering round come as a beat of the drum for the industry: there are now three projects requiring no subsidy in future under the Renewable Energies Act. “Cost reduction expectations have clearly been exceeded. Offshore wind power has become a cornerstone of an economical energy turnaround. We call on policymakers to press ahead now with the stalled grid expansion and the required sector coupling”, says Andreas Wellbrock, Managing Director of WAB. The topic will be discussed with high-ranking representatives from the industry in Session B, ´Changes in the Tendering Process´, of the WINDFORCE Conference on 10 May. The first evening of the conference traditionally rounds off with a joint maritime Dinner. The motto this year is ´A Journey Round the World´. Dr Joachim Lohse, Senator for Environment, Construction and Transport in Bremen, is due to attend as guest of honour.

“Alongside the expansion of offshore wind energy and the successful shaping of the energy turnaround, the declared aim of the WINDFORCE Conference is the global transfer of knowledge”, says Andreas Wellbrock. For this reason there are various sessions that deal with the topics and burning issues of our international partners. “In Session A we begin with the development of offshore wind power in Massachusetts, move on to Great Britain and ´Business opportunities and Brexit´ (Session E) and turn our attention to individual German states, for example to the importance of offshore wind energy to North Rhine-Westphalia in Session D”.

In addition, WAB member businesses will provide insights into technological innovations, optimised logistics solutions and new maintenance concepts. Session H deals with the design, production, installation and maintenance of subsea cables. In Session J discussion focuses on the most efficient solutions for the operations phase of offshore wind power plants installed in the North and Baltic seas. Other exciting topics are ´Corrosion Protection´ in Session K, ´Storage Technology and the Grid´ in Session F and ´Structural Health Monitoring´ in Session G.
The complete programme is available at: www.windforce.info


The WINDFORCE Conference is the leading event for offshore wind energy in Germany and each year draws start-ups, businesses and industrial concerns to the North Sea coast. This year 400 representatives are expected from renowned industry leaders such as 50Hertz, Adwen, BSH, CEZ, DOC, Deutsche WindGuard, Deutsche Windtechnik, DLR, DEWI-OCC, DNV GL, DONG, E.ON, ELA, EnBW, EUROGATE, EWE, Fassmer, Fraunhofer, Fred. Olsen Windcarrier, GE Grid, GeoSea, Global Tech, Hempel, Lufthansa, nkt cables, NSW, PwC, REETEC, Senvion, Siemens, Vattenfall, WindMW and wpd. This year Andreas Wellbrock expects a high turnout of visitors: “We´re confident of breaking visitor records for previous years”.
For more information on the WINDFORCE Conference 2017: Website: http://windforce.info/windforce2017/ Programme: http://windforce.info/windforce2017/conference-programme/


About WAB
WAB e.V. is the leading business network for wind energy in the north-west region and nationwide contact partner for the offshore wind energy industry in Germany. The asssociation comprises more than 350 businesses and institutes from all sectors of the wind energy industry, the maritime industry as well as research.


Bremerhaven, 9 May 2017


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Andreas Wellbrock, Managing Director WAB e.V.
Tel.: +49 (0) 172 754 6336
Email: andreas.wellbrock@wab.net


WAB e.V.
Barkhausenstraße 2
27568 Bremerhaven

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