Offshore Wind Energy: China's New Vessels Are Reducing Costs

Offshore wind energy is becoming increasingly attractive as costs continue to decline. A projection by the US Department of Energy a few years ago predicted that offshore wind farms would soon surpass the costs of coal and natural gas power plants. However, despite President Donald Trump's efforts to cripple the offshore wind industry in the US, global shipyards are building a new fleet of offshore construction vessels, which are reducing costs and increasing deployment speed, making it impossible for Trump to interfere with the sector.

When the offshore wind industry first emerged, it used construction vessels and equipment from the oil and gas industry, adding extra cost and complexity to wind projects. However, as shipyards began building vessels specifically designed for offshore wind farms, costs started to decrease.

Now, with the growth of offshore turbines and foundations, a new generation of Service Operation Vessels (SOVs) is needed to transport larger loads to the site and position them as quickly and efficiently as possible. The latest news in this area comes from the COSCO shipyard in Qidong, China, where a new wind installation vessel, Wind Ace, has been built for Cadeler, a Denmark-based offshore wind specialist.

Cadeler claims to have the world's largest fleet of jack-up offshore wind vessels, equipped with heavy-duty cranes. In a press release on July 17, it was announced that Wind Ace is the second new A-class vessel in the fleet, specially designed to install XXL wind turbines as quickly as possible. Cadeler CEO Mikkel Gleerup stated, "As turbines and foundations grow in size and projects become more complex, our customers need full-scope installation partners who can deliver safely and reliably."

Wind Ace will start its mission immediately. The global wind industry is working at a rapid pace. Cadeler announced that Wind Ace will prepare for ScottishPower Renewables' East Anglia TWO offshore wind farm in the UK, demonstrating its capabilities in transporting and installing 64 wind turbines and foundations.

Cadeler currently has 11 vessels in its fleet, with a 12th on the way. The company is expecting the delivery of its third A-class vessel, Apex Wind, next year. Globally, the cost of offshore wind is approaching the cost of new coal and gas plants. According to Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) calculations, the cost of offshore wind reached $40-50/MWh in 2026, indicating a competitive level with gas and coal.

Source: CleanTechnica