Pushing Offshore Wind Energy Regions (POWER)

The POWER project unites North Sea regions with an interest in supporting and realising the economic and technological potentials of offshore wind energy. In its four work streams, the project discusses and assesses environmental issues of offshore wind farms, the development of a reliable regional supply chain for the offshore wind sector, and skills development issues. 24 organisations take part, with representatives from Germany, the UK, Denmark, the Netherlands and Belgium. Transnational co-operation between these regions establishes a high profile North Sea competence network for offshore wind energy.

All partner regions face similar problems and opportunities in the sector. A strength of the partnership is the combination of regional expertise in onshore wind energy and in offshore oil and gas industries, which will make exchange of experience and best practise particularly beneficial.

POWER's supply chain work package

In its supply chain work (WP2), the project aims to increase the supply chain knowledge for the offshore wind industry in the North Sea Region. It establishes strong networks between leading offshore wind regions, involving both support organisations and businesses of the sector.

Comparable studies of the offshore wind economic supply chain will be conducted in the partner regions, following a common brief and terminology. The regional studies will then be combined in a North Sea wide study, giving a transnational overview of the supply chain.
Businesses from the partner regions will have the opportunity to meet and build transnational networks, during business forums.
Exchange of experience and best practise in supporting the offshore wind sector, through seminars and staff exchanges.
Conferences discussing challenges and solutions to develop the offshore wind supply chain, regionally and North Sea wide.
Joint promotion and publicity material.

The East of England Offshore Wind Supply chain study, which identifies some of the many new opportunities for developing offshore wind projects was launched on the 21st June in Suffolk, the report can be downloaded by clicking here.

POWER is co-financed by European Regional Development Funding (ERDF) through the Interreg IIIB North Sea Programme. The project has a €3.5m budget. It is managed by the Federal State of Bremen, and runs from 01.07.2004 to 30.06.2007.

UK contact for POWER's supply chain work (WP2): Suffolk County Council, Michael Moll, Endeavour House, 8 Russell Road, Suffolk, IP1 2BX, UK.
Tel. +44 1473 264808, e: michael.moll@et.suffolkcc.gov.uk, fax +44 1473 216877

For more information on POWER please visit www.offshore-power.net