Charting a greener future: lessons from Europe’s offshore wind leaders

Attending two premier European wind energy events – WindEnergy Hamburg in September, and the Dutch Offshore Energy Exhibition and Conference (OEEC) in November – revealed a number of useful lessons for Western Australia as we embark on our own journey to green our energy supply.

The Netherlands has set bold offshore wind capacity targets: 21 GW by 2031, 50 GW by 2040, and 70 GW by 2050. However, grid constraints and ambitious timelines present significant hurdles. Currently, the Dutch grid – built in the 1960s – needs significant upgrades to handle new connections and balance intermittent renewable energy. Offshore substations and hydrogen pipelines are being explored to address land limitations and optimise energy transport. GasUnie, for instance, is repurposing natural gas pipelines for hydrogen, offering a cost-effective solution to offshore energy challenges.

Technological innovation was a recurring theme at both events. Dutch developers are creating hybrid energy systems that integrate offshore wind, floating solar, battery storage, and hydrogen production. For example, the PosHYdon pilot aims to produce green hydrogen directly on an operational gas platform, with large-scale production expected by 2030-2035.

Meanwhile, companies like Cape Holland are pioneering noise-minimising technologies to protect marine life during wind farm construction. Enhanced ecological requirements in both Dutch and German tenders are fostering such developments, ensuring sustainability is embedded throughout the supply chain.

Australia’s offshore wind potential also received special attention. With abundant resources, proximity to demand centres, and steady output compared to onshore renewables, Australia is an attractive market. It is important that our regulatory environment be further developed to provide certainty to developers. A Dutch market scan on Australia’s opportunities will be released in February. From scaling infrastructure to addressing workforce shortages, the path to meeting offshore energy goals remains steep. However, through collaboration, technological advancements, and regulatory reforms, the sector is poised for transformative growth. As the world transitions to greener energy, events like WindEnergy Hamburg and the OEEC underline the importance of innovation and global partnerships in overcoming shared challenges.

1: Western Australian technology on display in Hamburg harbour. German firm Wallaby Boats uses WA know-how and technology from Nauti-Craft Marine Suspension Technology to design their suspended catamarans, delivering a unique solution for the installation and maintenance of offshore turbines.

2: Learning about the ecological considerations of offshore wind farms at the OEEC.