IRENA: International Standards Could Boost Offshore Wind

The development and adoption of international standards in the offshore wind sector could reduce transaction costs, improve safety and reliability, as well as increase consumer and investor confidence, according to a new report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

The Nurturing Offshore Wind Markets: Good Practices for International Standardisation report states that harmonizing technical requirements and certification systems across markets will facilitate trade and accelerate the development of the offshore wind industry.

“Offshore wind has the potential to be inclusive, cost-effective and game-changing,” said Dolf Gielen, Director of IRENA’s Innovation and Technology Centre. “The time is now for governments to put in place detailed offshore standardisation and quality control strategies to drive the development of domestic offshore wind energy as its costs continue to fall.”  

IRENA said that the report aims to provide guidance for countries planning to deploy the offshore wind technology on how to explore their full potential drawing on the experience from developed markets, such as those in Denmark, Germany, the UK and China, which it had examined.

“As costs fall and technology improves, countries beyond the existing European market will pursue their offshore wind potential in support of strategic energy policy priorities,” Gielen said.

“Now is the time for the development of a harmonised and documented global standardisation framework that enables these countries to access the cost-effective potential of offshore wind.”

According to IRENA, today’s international standards primarily reflect the European weather and sea conditions, thus the development should make sure they are relevant and applicable in deepwater, ice and hurricane conditions characteristic for new offshore wind markets, such as the US, India, China, Japan and Korea.