Page 26: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (April 2019)

OFFSHORE ENERGY • OFFSHORE WIND

WE NEED SCALE TO BRING DOWN THE

COSTS OF FLOATING WIND ENERGY.

THAT MEANS THAT WE HAVE TO RECOG-

NIZE THAT THE TIME OF PILOT EQUIP-

MENT AND DEMOS ARE NOW BEHIND

US. WE HAVE PROVEN TECHNOLOGIES

READY TO GO COMMERCIAL – AND “

NEED TO PLAN ACCORDINGLY. We think we can add signi? cant value offshore heavy lift operations with a tow we have invested in Principle Power Inc. offering to the market. Please be in ? oating wind – the growth of the in- from shore solution. With scale and bet- (PPI) and currently hold an 11.8% stake speci? c.

dustry is our big bet. Should we see that ter capacity factors, we believe the cost in the company. We are looking to de-risk the commer- our solutions can add value in ? xed bot- curve for ? oating wind will see the same cial scale projects and bring them for- ” tom offshore wind as well, then we will development as the cost curve for ? xed ward faster. A concrete example of this

In your opinion, what remains the of course address that market as well. bottom. is our ongoing participation in the con- greatest challenge to the offshore

As an example, we were awarded main- sortium for the development of a wind wind energy solution?

tenance contracts for TenneT’s onshore We need scale to bring down the costs farm outside of Humboldt Bay, Califor-

What one technology do you see as and offshore converter stations in 2018. of ? oating wind energy. That means that nia. Together with EDPR and Principle having the biggest impact on mak- we have to recognize that the time of pi- Power Inc. we were selected by the local ing offshore wind a more ef? cient

Fixed versus Floating: I’ve read a and cost-effective solution. Why? lot equipment and demos are now behind utility company, Redwood Coast Energy The obvious one short term: A tow- us. We have proven technologies ready Authority, to collaborate on this poten- lot about the evolution of Floating to-? eld semi-submersible ? oater with to go commercial – and need to plan ac- tial ? agship project for California.

Offshore Wind installations. From major repairs at quay side, due to the cordingly. And we are supporting the learning in

Aker Solutions perspective, how do removal of the heavy lift offshore opera- demo projects like the Kincardine and you see the market evolving? What tions. We currently believe the semi-sub- WindFloat Atlantic by providing our ex- are the pros and cons of each solu- Can you share speci? cs on a re- mersible ? oater is the fastest and most perience in offshore project management tion? cently completed or ongoing off- While we certainly recognize the im- cost-effective way to harness reliable as well as planning and execution of ma- shore wind projects that you think pressive learning curve ? xed bottom wind resource. You may have seen that rine operations. best exempli? es the Aker Solutions wind has achieved and how that industry has now reached a point of commercial-

Meet: Astrid Skarheim Onsum ization which includes the world’s ? rst

Astrid Skarheim Onsum, SVP, Head subsidy free farms, we believe there are of Wind Aker Solutions is respon- obvious bene? ts of ? oating wind for the sible for developing Aker Solutions’ longer term. ? oating wind business under an The fundamentals of ? oating allow ambitious growth strategy. She has for placement of farms where the wind more than 20 years of experience resource is best. As the turbines rapidly from the energy sector, including grow in capacity, the structures get taller. a range of technical and leadership

Floating wind also offers the bene? t of roles, at onshore as well as offshore placing wind farms with structures al- sites. As the managing director of most as tall as the Eiffel tower outside

Aker Solutions’ engineering busi- of the ? eld of vision from shore, while ness in Norway for 5 years she staying in proximity to the larger popula- oversaw delivery of some of the tion centers and offtake needs. The near most complex offshore projects shore con? icts with other stakeholders in the world. Ms. Onsum has also are reduced and we leave coveted near held the role of Chief Digital Of? - shore acreage available for other indus- cer for Aker Solutions for 2 years. trial and recreational use.

She holds a MSc in Mechanical While the cost of ? oating currently is

Engineering from the University of higher, there are signi? cant cost bene? ts.

Trondheim (NTNU) in Norway.

The obvious one is the removal of costly 26 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • APRIL 2019

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