By: CHRIS GRAEME
OFFSHORE WIND farms could be the answer to both Britain and Portugal’s medium-term energy sources concluded a seminar in Lisbon last week.
But governments, countries and companies had to cooperate and share expertise and know-how rather than being ‘protectionist’ to make wind energy a reliable and cheap alternative to fossil fuels.
The UK Trade & Investment Seminar on Offshore Wind, organised in Portugal by the British Embassy’s Trade Department, heard how both countries’ windy coastlines could jointly be producing over 50 Giga Watts of clean electrical energy by 2030.
In his opening session remarks, John Buckley of BERR (Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform) said that it was possible for the UK to reduce its CO2 and greenhouse emissions by 60 per cent by 2050 while 10 per cent of energy consumption could come from renewable sources by 2010 and 15 per cent by 2015.
The European Union has set itself a target of 20 per cent energy from green sources by 2020.
However, of the range of resources under investigation, few “are likely to be ready to exploit for some years” whereas “wind has the capability to deliver offshore power in the United Kingdom,” he said.
Moderator António Sá da Costa of APREN said, “there wasn’t a friendly environment in Portugal” to facilitate wind farm development in terms of legislation since approvals had to go through five ministries.
Another problem was that Portugal’s “continental shelf rapidly descended into deep waters” making wind farms expensive while Portugal had “a lack of experience” unlike Scotland which has the significant Beatrice Wind Park.
“We are keen to learn from the UK experiences and show readiness to cooperate with UK companies while our first wave farm is to open in Portugal shortly,” he said.
Keynote speaker Mark Ennis explained how Airtricity, the largest UK offshore wind energy company and part of Scottish & Southern Energy plc, was number one in renewables, with significant experience including 40 wind farms worldwide.
Increase
He warned that by 2030 the world’s energy requirement would increase by 50 per cent while Europe would be importing 94 per cent of its oil, 84 per cent of its gas, and 59 per cent of its coal.
“Even at current reductions there will be a 20 per cent increase in emissions by 2030 representing a three per cent global temperature increase by the year 2100. We are so dependent on others for our energy which is not a good place to be,” he warned.
Deserts would move northwards, Portugal would become like Southern Morocco, 500 million would go hungry from famine, and tropical diseases like malaria would spread northwards, while 170 million would be affected by coastal flooding.
Ana Estanqueiro of INETI said that floating wind farms were “expensive” but could be set up in waters of up to 40 metres deep, highlighting Viana de Castelo, Peniche, Ericeira, Sintra, Figueira da Foz, Aveiro and possibly Sagres as potential sites.
“The potential for harnessing offshore wind (was) enormous in Portugal”, with a potential short term capacity of 3,500 Mega Watts, but she warned the government and companies needed to invest in technology and reduce costs.
The British Ambassador Alex Ellis stressed that it was all about partnerships and working together between countries for joint competitive advantage, since no one (country or single company) could do it on its own.
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