清洁能源转型安全2021-120页_11mb

Summary of "Offshore Renewables: An Action Agenda for Deployment"

Core Content

This document, Offshore Renewables: An Action Agenda for Deployment, published by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in 2021, outlines the current status, future outlook, technological trends, and recommendations for the G20 to support the global deployment of offshore renewable energy technologies. It emphasizes the role of offshore wind, ocean energy, and floating solar photovoltaics (FPV) in advancing the energy transition and fostering the blue economy.

Main Points

Offshore Wind

• Market Status: By the end of 2020, global offshore wind capacity reached over 34 GW, representing an 11-fold increase since 2010.
• Geographic Distribution: Over 70% of offshore wind capacity is in Europe, with China, the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK, and Germany leading in new installations.
• Cost Competitiveness: Offshore wind LCOE is expected to drop significantly, reaching USD 0.05–0.08/kWh by 2023, and floating offshore wind to USD 0.13/kWh by 2024.
• Emerging Trends:
  • Development of larger turbines (e.g., 15 MW by Vestas).
  • Floating foundations for deeper water installations (e.g., Hywind Tampen in Norway).
  • Combined-technology power plants (e.g., Eco Wave Project).
  • Offshore energy hubs (e.g., artificial islands in Denmark).
  • Green hydrogen production via offshore wind (e.g., AquaVentus in Germany).
  • Airborne wind energy systems (e.g., Skysails Skypower100 in Germany).

Ocean Energy

• Market Status: By the end of 2020, global ocean energy capacity exceeded 515 MW, with over 98% operational, primarily from tidal barrage projects.
• Geographic Distribution: 31 countries are pursuing ocean energy projects, with European nations like France, the UK, and Canada leading.
• Technology Maturity: Tidal energy is more mature than wave energy, with the latter still in research stages.
• Emerging Trends:
  • Growth in wave and tidal energy projects (e.g., 150 MW wave, 1.9 GW tidal).
  • Technology convergence in tidal stream (e.g., horizontal-axis turbines).
  • Parallel development of multiple wave energy prototypes.
  • Combined-technology power plants (e.g., ocean energy with wind and FPV).
  • Business models for powering the blue economy (e.g., aquaculture, desalination, cooling).

Floating Solar PV

• Market Status: By the end of 2020, global floating solar PV capacity was around 2.6 GW, with the largest plant in China (150 MW).
• Geographic Distribution: Active in Asia, Africa, and Europe, with notable projects in India, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Netherlands.
• Cost Competitiveness: Floating solar PV is expected to become cost-competitive with onshore solar by 2030.
• Emerging Trends:
  • Deployment on both artificial and natural water bodies (e.g., dams in South Korea).
  • Expansion into seawater (e.g., Seychelles plans a 5.8 MW FPV array).
  • Combined-technology power plants (e.g., Maasvlakte 2 in the Netherlands).
  • Integration with blue economy sectors (e.g., desalination, aquaculture).

Key Contributions

• Blue Economy: Offshore renewables can power sectors like aquaculture, desalination, and shipping, supporting sustainable economic development.
• Energy Transition: They can significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and contribute to the global decarbonisation of the power system.
• Climate Resilience: Technologies such as ocean energy can provide climate-safe recovery options for islands and coastal communities.

Recommendations to the G20

IRENA recommends the G20 take several actions to support offshore renewables deployment, including:

Socio-Political Considerations

• Ocean Governance: Observe the UN Law of the Sea Convention and promote multilateral cooperation for transnational offshore projects.
• Marine Spatial Planning (MSP): Develop and integrate offshore renewable plans into MSP.
• Data Sharing: Cooperate with IRENA's Collaborative Framework to collect and share key data.
• Grid Infrastructure Planning: Foster coordination on offshore grid infrastructure planning.
• Joint Research: Conduct joint research projects on technical potential and industrial development within G20 countries and with other nations.

Policy and Regulation

• Supportive Policies: Implement policies that encourage offshore renewable deployment, including tax incentives and regulatory frameworks.
• Standardization: Promote international standards for offshore renewables (e.g., IEC, ISO).

Technology and Infrastructure

• R&D Investment: Increase R&D investment to improve technology readiness levels (TRLs) and reduce costs.
• Demonstration Projects: Support demonstration projects to showcase feasibility and scalability.
• Infrastructure Development: Invest in offshore grid infrastructure and energy storage solutions.

Economic and Financial Considerations

• Public-Private Partnerships: Encourage public-private partnerships to finance offshore renewable projects.
• Green Financing: Leverage green financing mechanisms to support offshore energy deployment.
• Cost Reduction: Focus on cost reduction strategies for all offshore renewable technologies.

Environmental Issues

• Impact Assessment: Conduct thorough environmental impact assessments (EIAs) to ensure sustainable development.
• Biodiversity Protection: Implement measures to protect marine biodiversity and ecosystems.

G20 Action Agenda

IRENA highlights that the G20 is uniquely positioned to drive the large-scale commercialisation of offshore renewables due to its significant economic and trade influence. The G20 countries account for 99.3% of global offshore wind capacity and nearly all ocean energy capacity, making them key players in the transition to renewable energy.

Conclusion

The report underscores the potential of offshore renewables to play a central role in the global energy transition and the development of a sustainable blue economy. It provides a roadmap for G20 members to accelerate the deployment of these technologies through strategic actions, policy alignment, and international collaboration. The focus is on leveraging technological advancements, reducing costs, and addressing socio-political and environmental challenges to ensure the long-term viability and scalability of offshore renewable energy.