Siemens has launched its new Round 3 website at the Global Offshore Conference at ExCel, London (13-14 June).
Siemens, a leading provider of global wind power solutions, unveiled its vision for Round 3, the largest offshore wind programme to date, with the launch of a new dedicated website. Focused on informing external audiences about the programme, the website also provides a wealth of information about Siemens’ role in the UK wind industry.
“The Crown Estate’s Round 3 programme represents an unparalleled opportunity for the UK to lead the way in offshore wind. The scale of the investments and the size of the proposed wind farms will make a significant contribution to the UK’s renewable targets, and to the economy, through the creation of new jobs, skills and local supply chain development,” said Michael Hannibal , chief executive officer – offshore EMEA , Siemens Wind Power .
The website provides comprehensive information about the Round 3 programme. Development of the site was led by Matthew Knight, Siemens’ business development director for Round 3 in the UK, and is focused on communicating about the programme, and Siemens role within it to as wide an audience as possible.
As Knight explains: “We realised that there was a gap in understanding, not only about offshore wind energy in the UK, but also about what is really involved in a programme of this scale. It is not just about what you see above the water, but involves many other complex engineering, financing, supply chain, skills and resourcing elements. Round 3 is the largest-ever offshore programme and is truly ground breaking. It has the potential to transform the UK economy in the way that the discovery of North Sea oil did. We hope that our new site will convey what this means for the UK and also Siemens’ pioneering role in the UK’s offshore industry and Round 3.”
Siemens already plays a lead role in the UK offshore industry, with 12 wind farms either completed or in development, including some of the largest on UK shores, such as the London Array, Gwynt-y-Mör, and the recently completed Walney II development in Cumbria.
The company will also play a major part in Round 3 as part of the SMart Wind Consortium with Mainstream Renewable Power, which won development rights for Hornsea Zone in 2010. Hornsea is one of nine zones and when completed will provide at least 4GW of offshore wind capacity (4% of the UK’s total electricity.)
Siemens’ technologies provide around 50% (3GW) of total UK wind energy generating capacity offshore and onshore combined (total UK capacity 6GW RUK figures, January 2012), and its Manchester-based grid connections business provides a large percentage of all offshore grid connections (by megawatt) to the National Grid. Siemens Renewables Service business based in Newcastle completes the portfolio, offering comprehensive long-term service and maintenance packages to optimise yields on wind farms.
Siemens is a Silver Sponsor of this year’s offshore event and it showcased the new website at Stand 483.
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Offshore WIND staff, June 15, 2012; Image: Siemens