The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) has created a new Offshore Wind Taskforce to accelerate the development of offshore wind technology in non-European markets such as Asia and North America.
The Taskforce will be chaired by Alastair Dutton, who played a key role in the creation of the UK's successful offshore wind industry with roles at The Crown Estate and in government at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The Taskforce will be made up of leading developers, investors and manufacturers in the sector, as well as technical experts and inter-governmental organisations. It will be supported by Henrik Stiesdal, widely known as the "father" of the modern wind industry and the creator of the first large scale offshore wind project, who will act as GWEC's Global Offshore Wind Ambassador.The Taskforce aims to carry out a series of activities, including:
- Advising governments on regulatory frameworks and tendering systems for offshore wind, including creating an Offshore Wind Policy Toolkit
- Measuring and highlighting the economic and social benefits of offshore wind deployment and the creation of local supply chains
- Fostering technology innovation and the testing of new turbines, installation techniques and O&M strategies, including promoting the benefits of digitalisation
- Spreading best practices and the transfer of knowledge from Europe and other established markets to new and developing markets
- Creating appropriate forums to promote the growth of the global offshore industry, including seminars, technical workshops, conferences and exhibitions.