LIVE BLOG: Offshore Energy Exhibition & Conference 2024

November 27, 2024, by Aida Čučuk

Welcome to the Live Blog!

Organizers of Dutch, U.S. offshore energy events ink new agreement

The U.S. industry organization for offshore renewable energy, Oceantic Network, and Dutch media and event company, Navingo, today signed a new agreement to cross-promote each other’s events, Offshore Energy Exhibition & Conference in the Netherlands and the International Partnering Forum (IPF) in the United States.

Focus on wind

The Stage started the second day of OEEC with wind-focused sessions: Offshore Wind Outlook by NedZero and The Value of Wind by Sander Mertens. The panelists discussed the industry’s growth, challenges and opportunities, as well as aligning solar and wind supply with energy needs.

Mertens stated that the combination of different sources and sectors of energy – instead of keeping them apart – would bring the best results and help overcome the seasonal and other obstacles that each sector faces.

Grids and interconnectors: Piecing it together

At the first Conference session, the panelists agreed that three grids need to be developed in the Netherlands to reach net zero: one for offshore wind, one for hydrogen and one for CO2. However, onshore demand needs to increase as well, they pointed out.

Michiel van Rij, Country Lead of Offshore Wind Development Netherlands at RWE, said that the demand is currently lagging behind and needs to be in sync with supply.

Saskia Jaarsma, Head of Offshore Development – Large Projects Offshore at TenneT, noted that the aim is to have ‘LionLink,’ set to connect the Netherlands and the UK, commissioned in 2032, or 2033.

Additionally, additional interconnection options are being investigated.

Welcome to Day 2

The doors are open again. On the second day of Offshore Energy Exhibition & Conference, you can expect a full and insightful program.

Here’s what’s coming:

The Stage

(09:30 – 09:55) Offshore wind outlook – The second day will start with NedZero Chairman discussing the challenges that remain in fully harnessing the potential of offshore wind in the Netherlands.
(10:00 – 10:25) The value of wind – Aligning solar and wind supply with energy needs, determining what to store or use immediately is next on the agenda, with input from Centre of Expertise ‘Mission Zero.’
(10:30 – 10:55) What young leaders should know about the Energy Transition – What should senior leaders do to encourage younger talent to leverage their skills and voices for a diverse, action-oriented workforce? Erasmus Centre for Energy Transition representatives will offer some tips at the next session.
(11:00 – 11:25) How to collaborate with start ups – Since only one out of every three collaborations between a starting and an established company is said to be successful, a speaker from PortXL will teach you about the critical factors needed to succeed.
(11:30 – 11:55) From fear to fun – Next up, former CEO of Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy will talk about how you can leave the planet in a better shape than you found it and dare to have some serious fun while doing it.
(12:00 – 12:30) Leadership in energy: A conversation with Manon van Beek, CEO of TenneT – Join TenneT CEO in a discussion on leadership, innovation, and TenneT’s role in Europe’s energy transition.
(12:30) Young Professional Award – The individual with the best motivation will win a personal leadership program by Crest Collective, whose goal is to empower the energy and maritime sectors through self-awareness, collaboration and community-building.
(13:30 – 13:55) Embedding cyber resilience across the enterprise: a blueprint for success – At the next session, a Van Oord representative will share views on how cyber security can be seamlessly integrated into business operations.
(14:00 – 14:55) Innovation Award Show – Want to see some game-changing innovations? Watch as the innovators pitch their ideas and tackle questions from the jury and audience, competing for the title of Best Innovation and a €5,180 prize.
(15:00 – 15:30) Are you ready to make impact? – The speakers from Critical Minds will offer theoretical insights on how beliefs drive leadership impact, including an exercise to help you experience it yourself.

Conference Area

(09:30 – 10: 30) Grids and interconnectors: Piecing it together – From offshore grids for offshore wind farms to interconnectors crossing borders at sea to link electricity markets, you can catch up with developments in this market at the conference session gathering speakers from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), TenneT and RWE.
(11:30 – 12:30) Supply Chain: Smooth the process – The supply chain, especially the one in offshore renewable energy, is facing bottlenecks and other challenges but also opportunities with solutions that can help overcome some of these. Learn more from speakers from Rabobank, Energy Industries Council (EIC), the Dutch Ministry of Defense and Osbit.
(14:00 – 15:00) DMEC – Innovations for offshore renewable energy tenders – Join the conference session organized by our partner at Dutch Marine Energy Centre (DMEC) that will talk about non-price criteria in offshore renewable energy tenders and find out more from speakers from DMEC, Wavepiston, Vattenfall, CAPE Holland, and WindEurope.

The Government of the Netherlands

(15:15 – 16:45) Australia’s Offshore Wind Potential – Learn more about opportunities in the emerging Australian offshore wind market from Embassy and Consulate-General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Australia, Holland Home of Wind Energy, Pondera Consult and Royal HaskoningDHV in Room G110.
(09:00 – 16:30) Sessions and masterclass – The Dutch Government will be holding several sessions and a masterclass on offshore wind throughout the day for foreign government officials and invited guests.

That is all for today, see you tomorrow!

Enjoy a refreshing drink and appetizers at the end of the first day of the exhibition. Starting at 18:00, you are invited to join the networking drinks – an excellent opportunity to connect with fellow attendees. Location: Conference Area

Pioneering a Sustainable Future for Offshore T&I Equipment

For the last session of the day, MeeMaken, Van Oord, and ECHT regie in transitie representatives presented the Re-Quip Marketplace – a platform aimed at enhancing sustainability and transparency for offshore transport and installation (T&I) equipment and materials.

According to Erwin Coolen, Managing Director at ECHT regie in transitie, we will see more repairs and refurbishments in the future, which means that sustainability will be important for a strong economy.

Onshore and Offshore Wind Power Solutions for Economic Resilience of Ukraine

OEEC 2024 featured another interesting session at the Stage. Panelists discussed available investment opportunities in the Ukrainian wind energy market and what the market can offer to Dutch partners.

Currently, Ukraine is developing approximately 4 GW of new onshore wind projects, set to be operational by 2030. Additionally, the country is said to have technical potential for offshore wind energy development in the Azov and Black Seas, estimated at 50 GW.

Nature Regeneration North Sea

Jeroen Vis of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature introduced the new program, ‘Nature Regeneration North Sea,’ during a session at the Conference.

“The beauty of the North Sea nature is something we cannot keep taking for granted, as the ecosystem is under increasing pressure, mostly due to human impact,” Vis noted, adding that more needs to be done, and the “traditional” protection and recovery alone is not enough.

Outlook USA: a post-election update

Liz Burdock, President & CEO at Oceantic Network, discussed what the administration change could mean for offshore wind projects in the United States.

The incoming president will not stop offshore wind projects and the investments will continue, Burdock claimed, adding: “We’re confident we’ll get through this and not just survive, we will thrive.”

While the incoming president might announce withdrawal from climate agreements, Burdock believes that the states will go their own way, noting: “States continue to show their support for offshore wind.”

Damen, Herman Sr. shake hands on methanol-ready, diesel-electric multipurpose ship

Dutch shipbuilding major Damen Shipyards Group and compatriot tug and workboat company Herman Sr. have just signed a letter of intent (LOI) for the construction of a new methanol-ready diesel-electric multipurpose vessel (MPV) 4916.

“This is a boat that ticks all the boxes. The MPV 4916 allows for the use of a single platform and crew to perform the widest possible range of workboat operations. The standard vessel can be reconfigured for change of use, or for project specific tasks, offering added value,” said John Krielaart, the Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld Design & Proposal Engineer responsible for the MPV 4916.

CCS: Completing the climate change menu

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is expected to play an important role in the transition to net zero emissions. Many believe it is vital in realizing the climate goals of the future. However, there are challenges in its adoption. Panelists of the session discussed just this.

According to Berte Simons, Business Unit Director of CO2 Storage & Transport Systems at EBN, after 2030, the Netherlands can do ten times what it is doing now in CCS. The key challenges are that it is a developing industry, it is very capital-intensive and requires a lot of collaboration.

Alistair Macfarlane, Manager of UK Carbon Transport & Storage at NSTA is confident that the CCS industry will happen, however, all individuals need to reach their respective targets.

When questioned why is the industry not working on decarbonizing the input, but is looking at decarbonizing the output, Macfarlane said that there is not only one answer, but one of them is to reverse the damage that is done.

Seabed security panel discussion

To protect undersea infrastructure, the knowledge and equipment of the offshore energy supply chain are said to be much needed.

Paul Flos, Program Director of International Naval Materiel Cooperation at the Dutch Ministry of Defense, said they need the contribution of the civilian industry to help the Netherlands’ Ministry of Defense and NATO win wars.

Sander van Luik, Program Manager of Defense, Safety and Security at TNO & SeaSEC, discussed the question of accountability and responsibility when it comes to pipeline vulnerabilities and protecting energy security and supply from attacks.

RVO’s Workshop on Offshore Wind in the Netherlands

Update on Dutch Offshore Wind Policy, presented by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate’s Eva de Leede, Head of Unit Offshore Wind (market policies) and Joost Vermeulen, Head of Unit, Offshore Wind (spatial policies).

Speaking about government plans, the new offshore wind roadmap and target of 50 GW by 2040, Eva de Leede invited developers who plan to participate in the next offshore wind tender to diversify their supplier portfolio as the government is working on including some new measures such as those for cyber security.

De Leede added that things such as cyber security are now a high priority and the government cannot wait for the later tenders to include them so they are working now on implementing it into the upcoming IJmuiden Ver Gamma and Nederwiek offshore wind tender that will be launched in 2025.

FOLLOW LIVE STREAM: OEEC24 – Government of the Netherlands

Data driven insights turned into impact

During the session, Dirk-Jan Goudswaard, Manager of Digital Operations at Huisman, discussed how data-based value can be created for customers. He claimed that predictability is key for complex operations such as the ones performed by Huisman.

The company has been using an online platform for keeping track of equipment and collaborating with customers since 2022. Still, this is said to be reactive, which is why the company found “a hidden treasure” – an R&D project to make data driven based decisions.

Goudswaard spoke about various scenarios where the solution can be used, such as wire rope.

Thanks to a theoretical wear prediction model and smart cameras that measure broken strands, things like the wire rope’s lifetime could be predicted, according to Goudswaard.

Green Growth: Securing a sustainable future

The speakers of the session at the Conference shared insights about clean energy, decarbonization and sustainability in the context of green growth. Furthermore, they provided clarity on what “green growth” actually means.

“Green growth is not only fighting the fight against climate change but achieving sustainability all over,” said Mark van Stiphout, Deputy Head of Unit for Research, Innovation, Competitiveness and Digitalization at DG Energy, European Commission.

Bas Nekeman, Business Unit Director Northern Europe at DEME Offshore, pointed out: “We can look back into history and history will tell us where we need to go into the future.”

Nature Enhancement & Offshore Wind, 5 years The Rich North Sea program

The Rich North Sea, a joint program by the North Sea Foundation and Natuur & Milieu, utilizes offshore wind farms to enhance biodiversity and counter climate change.

During this session at the Stage, Karin Bilo, Senior Marine Ecology Specialist at Ørsted, discussed how Ørsted installed cod pipes. By providing habitat for cods, the company expects to provide habitat for other species, such as lobsters, which is where the Rich North Sea cooperation came from.

“Climate change will have much more impactful consequences for the marine environment,” noted Marjolein Kelder, Senior Project Manager at The Rich North Sea, adding that the time to act is now.

“This is a pilot which is going to give us some insight into how you can use these findings and integrate them into your windfarms,” said Bilo.

Kelder also mentioned that a toolbox was developed containing practical information on the project and highlighted the importance of learning by doing.

The future of offshore hydrogen

The Stage kicked off with ‘The future of offshore hydrogen’ session with discussions on the future of offshore hydrogen and a presentation on how integrating electrolyzers into offshore turbines can lower the cost of energy and enhance the security of supply.

Speakers included Jacqueline Vaessen, Director a.i. at NLHydrogen, and Jan Willem Langeraar, Director of Business Development at HYGRO.

“Hydrogen is not the holy grain, it will not solve anything, but it has an important role in heavy-duty mobility and can balance the electricity system,” stated Vaessen.

“NL is still the front-runner, but the competition is coming close.”

Floating Wind: Expanding the offshore wind market

The Floating Wind session is now well underway at the Conference, with the panelists discussing the specific requirements for floating wind, compared to fixed-bottom, and what these further require from the supply chain.

“The perfect port for floating wind hasn’t been built yet,” said Tommy Sandtorv, CCO at Karmsund Port.

Speakers included:

Axelle Viré, Professor Floating Offshore Wind at Delft University of Technology
James Young, Chief Strategy and Compliance Officer at JDR Cables
Tommy Sandtorv, CCO Karmsund Port at Karmsund Port Authority
Richard den Hollander, Global Business Development and Account Management Director at Seaway7

Offshore Energy Exhibition & Conference officially opens!

The Offshore Energy Exhibition & Conference has officially opened!

We welcome everyone to the 17th edition of our event, dedicated to the offshore energy sector. Are you ready to network and learn about new products and services in the industry?

Offshore Energy Exhibition & Conference 2024 (OEEC 2024) is minutes away from the official opening!

The offshore energy industry is gathering at RAI Amsterdam as Offshore Energy Exhibition & Conference will soon officially open its doors.

The stands are ready and OEEC is buzzing with activity, even though we are some half an hour away from the official opening.

Here we will regularly update you with event highlights. You can expect plenty of interaction, information, presentations and innovations.

What’s coming later today

The Stage

(09:30 – 09:55) The future of offshore hydrogen – The first day of OEEC 2024 conference on the stage will start with a presentation on how integrating electrolyzers into offshore turbines can lower the cost of energy and enhance the security of supply by representatives from NLHydrogen and HYGRO.
(10:00 – 10:55) Local production of hydrogen in offshore wind hub-ports – Next up, Netherlands Maritime Technology will tackle the topic of physical and economic indicators of hydrogen-driven offshore wind service vessels followed by a discussion on the feasibility of hydrogen as a decarbonization pathway.
(11:00 – 11:25) Nature enhancement & offshore wind, 5 years The Rich North Sea program – Partners from The Rich North Sea and Ørsted will share updates on progress made in their program utilizing offshore wind farms to enhance biodiversity and counter climate change.
(11:30 – 11:55) North Sea vision 2040 – Natuur & Milieu’s Director of programs will talk about the 2040 vision for the restoration of the North Sea and its valuable ecosystem.
(12:00 – 12:25) Cross-pollination for one client in two industries – If you are interested in automation and robotization and implementing specialized ROV tooling in IRM projects, stop by this presentation by a representative of OEG Renewables.
(13:30 – 13:55) Data driven insights turned into impact – How to create data-based value for your customers? Find out from experts at Huisman.
(14:00 – 14:55) Seabed security panel discussion – The next session will feature speakers from TNO & SeaSEC, IRO & NMT, and the Dutch Ministry of Defense discussing offshore energy supply chain expertise as a means to protect undersea infrastructure.
(15:00 – 15:25) Enhancing the financeability of the offshore wind supply chain – Invest-NL, TKI Offshore Energy, and JBR are studying how to improve financing for innovative and scaling projects in the Dutch offshore wind energy supply chain. Preliminary findings on financing demand, supply, and challenges will be shared during this presentation by an Invest-NL representative.
(15:30 – 15:55) Outlook USA: a post-election update – What does the post-election landscape look like for offshore wind in the U.S.? Oceantic Network President & CEO will share some thoughts on the matter.
(16:00 – 16:25) Innovative method for lifting topsides – An Iv representative will take you through the company’s patented method for lifting topsides that improves risk management, reduces costs, and increases flexibility, streamlining offshore platform construction.
(16:30 – 17:25) Onshore and offshore wind power solutions for economic resilience of Ukraine – The penultimate session on the first day is a panel discussion on Ukraine’s onshore and offshore wind energy opportunities, with panelists from Ukrainian Wind Energy Association (UWEA) highlighting wind energy’s role in the country’s energy balance, progress in offshore development and what the market offers to Dutch partners.
(17:30 – 17:55) Re-Quip: Pioneering a sustainable future for offshore T&I equipment – For the last session of the day, MeeMaken, Van Oord, and ECHT regie in transitie representatives will present the Re-Quip Marketplace – a pioneering initiative to enhance sustainability and transparency for offshore T&I equipment.

Conference Area

(09:30 – 10:30) Floating Wind: Expanding the offshore wind market – The first day of OEEC 2024 conference kicks off with a session on floating wind and input from multiple vital areas of the industry with representatives from TU Delft, JDR Cable Systems, Karmsund Port Authority and Seaway 7 in the panelist seats.
(11:30 – 12:30) Green Growth: Securing a sustainable future – Harmonizing economic growth with environmental sustainability in the world where we keep building more (offshore energy) infrastructure is up next with panelists from Damen Shipyards Group, Invest-NL, DEME Offshore and the European Commission’s DG Energy.
(14:00 – 15:00) CCS: Completing the climate change menu – How are things going in the carbon capture and storage (CCS) industry? You can find this out at the CCS conference session where speakers from Energie Beheer Nederland (EBN), the UK’s North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA), Strohm and ONE-Dyas will share their insights.
(15:30 – 16:15) Presentation Program Nature Regeneration North Sea – Learn more about the ambition for large-scale nature enhancement in the North Sea from the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature who will introduce the new Nature Regeneration North Sea program being undertaken through a public-private partnership.

The Government of the Netherlands

(13:30 – 18:00) Workshop Offshore Wind Energy in the Netherlands – The Dutch Government will host a workshop on offshore wind in the Netherlands in Room G102/103, where those who registered (as the room is full) will get an update on developments under the 21 GW Offshore Wind Energy Roadmap and beyond towards 2040 and much more.
(09:00 – 16:45) Sessions, roundtables and workshops – The Government will be holding several knowledge sessions and roundtables throughout the day for foreign government officials and invited guests.