Basque wind energy companies join forces in sector’s most important event

Submitted by Jose Hormaeche on 09 November 2016

The Basque wind energy sector has showcased its strength at Wind Energy Hamburg, the sector’s most important international fair, which took place in Hamburg (Germany) from 27 to 30 September. The Offshore Wind Energy Basque Country brand shared a stand with ten companies at the most important event of the year.

The Offshore Wind Basque Country, brand's stand, organised by the Basque Energy Cluster in collaboration with the Basque Maritime Forum, showcased the capabilities of Basque companies and the Basque Country's potential to develop onshore and offshore wind energy infrastructure.

Ten important Basque companies were at Offshore Wind Energy Basque Country's stand - ANTEC, ERREKA, EUSKALFORGING, GLUAL, HINE, IRIZAR FORGE, KIMUA GROUP, LAULAGUN BEARINGS, NAUTILUS, and Windbox, the Advanced Manufacturing Centre for wind energy in the Basque Country. The latter offered potentially interested companies the chance to request testing services at their facilities and test benches: wind turbine hydraulic pitch, generator slip rings, blade bearing (which is still being built) and yaw system (which is also being built).

Other Cluster companies also attended the event in Hamburg with their own stands, like Gamesa and Ingeteam.

With initiatives like the Offshore Wind Basque Country stand, the Cluster especially aims to strengthen the position of Basque industry in international offshore wind energy markets, as this energy is considered to be one of the renewable energy sources that offers the best prospects for the future.

There was a positive atmosphere at Wind Energy Hamburg and international companies were interested in the brand, including planners, equipment manufacturers and suppliers, financial services providers, operators, energy companies and service providers. As well as key players, SMEs from all the stages of the value chain were present.

Despite uncertainties caused by changes in the regulatory framework and the strong competition of the solar photovoltaic industry, current market data shows that the industry has reasons to feel optimistic - the installed wind power in the world at the end of 2015 was 11,027 MW and it is estimated that this figure will increase by 2020 to an amount between 20 and 28 GW - an increase of between 81% and 154% in just five years. In fact, it is expected that between 2016 and 2017 permits to build wind farms for a total of 26 GW will be granted, and 9 GW will be waiting for authorisation.

The Basque industry is currently in an excellent position to make the most of the opportunities in this field, and the global investment in both onshore and offshore wind farms will grow by 10% ever year until 2020, which means that it is likely that the turnover of wind energy companies in the Basque Country will grow too.

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