Henrik Stiesdal, the man who hugely influenced the wind energy industry, is issuing a powerful appeal to Australia. He encourages the nation to tap into its wealth of wind resources and develop a robust offshore wind industry. With more than 30 years of experience, Stiesdal has made a significant impact on the renewable energy industry. He is the holder of 94 European patents and is considered one of the founders of offshore wind technology.
In 1991, he was instrumental in building the world’s first offshore wind farm off the coast of Denmark. His leadership as chief technology officer at Siemens Wind Power, a leading global renewable energy supplier during his tenure, further solidified his impact on the industry. Stiesdal’s insights come at a time when Australia is beginning to explore its offshore wind capabilities, inspired by the successes seen in the United Kingdom.
Australia’s Opportunity for Growth
Stiesdal is convinced that Australia has all the ingredients needed to foster a flourishing offshore wind industry. He points to the country’s better quality wind resources, which might sustain higher levels of utility-scale energy production.
“Australia has huge opportunities because you have such good wind resources,” – Henrik Stiesdal
He emphasizes that while the potential is vast, the process to get projects off the ground requires careful planning and simplification. Stiesdal adds that today’s permitting process can be done with the right diligence and transparency to prevent long hold-ups.
“The permitting process is not something you just pull out of the high hat,” – Henrik Stiesdal
Stiesdal warns that countries which do not acknowledge this are usually caught in long, bureaucratic planning processes that stall opportunities. He is bullish on the mood in Australia’s new political class about the push for renewables, writing,
“Australia is now very outspoken and very clear in the language that the government wants it to happen.”
Lessons from the United Kingdom
As Stiesdal recounts in an article on his experiences in Denmark. He looks to the United Kingdom and pinpoints several key ingredients to the UK’s offshore wind success. 52 offshore windfarms … The UK now flies the flag for 52 offshore wind farms. Collectively, they produce 15.9 gigawatts of power, enough to provide power to more than 60 percent of its residences.
Through all these successes, he highlights the central importance of smart planning in making them possible. The UK’s first commercial offshore wind farm began operations in 2003, during Stiesdal’s tenure at Siemens. If we’re to replicate this success in Australia, the same level of commitment and strategic planning will be required, he claims.
“The reason for the UK’s success in getting projects off the ground was good planning,” – Henrik Stiesdal
He is still confident that once Australia approves its first offshore project, subsequent approvals will come faster. He hopes that with the right foundation built upfront, construction schedules wouldn’t be needlessly lengthy.
“There’s a serious piece of work in that, and then the actual construction time from when you sign a contract in a new location like Australia … to now we’re going to do this, should typically be three to four years,” – Henrik Stiesdal
His take underscores the need to get through early obstacles quickly so that the buzz can grow across the broader industrial landscape.
The Future of Offshore Wind in Australia
Stiesdal’s expertise will be a much-needed guiding beacon as Australia harnesses the power of offshore wind. In doing so, he changed the course of the industry forever. So far they’ve sold him as a potential founding figure of modern offshore wind technology.
He recognizes that Australia has a well-developed energy distribution grid that can effectively harness offshore wind energy, which adds to its potential for success in this field.
“And you have a fairly well-developed network, a grid that could distribute the energy supply from offshore wind,” – unnamed source
As a result, Stiesdal’s call for Australia to “uncomplicate” regulatory processes hits home with stakeholders who are keen to see tournaments lead to positive outcomes in renewable energy projects. His vision closely matches Australia’s aspirations to transition into a greener, cleaner economy and make the best use of its natural resources.
