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IMCA Takes a View on Offshore Renewables
01 Oct 2005
The London based International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has prepared a position paper on offshore renewable energy to assist and inform its 270 members in 35 countries on the marine renewable energy market. Having examined the background and scale of developments using existing and planned wind farms in the UK, the 14 page paper looks at legislation and guidelines, raising awareness, the market, research & development, other technical issues, safety, the environment and contracting, whilst wave and tidal power are covered in appendices.
IMCA's chief executive Hugh Williams said, 'IMCA members support the development of renewable energy and are increasingly involved in offshore renewable construction projects.
The purpose of our newly published paper is to inform our members and to solicit feedback from industry, reflecting the fact that knowledge sharing will be beneficial.'
The paper highlights areas where further R&D expenditure may be necessary and areas where commercial development has further to proceed. The variety of tasks involved in the offshore renewables marketplace is reflected in the paper as are a number of relevant technical and commercial issues, including cable laying, J-tube and installation vessel design, diving personnel access and the contracting regime.
The scale, timing and planning of offshore wind farm installations is not yet completely predictable.
The position paper suggests that though the marketplace for offshore renewables may become larger in the future, at the present time project finance and industry capacity to deliver may constrain development. IMCA members will continue to monitor developments in the market as volume grows and projects move into deeper water.
MJ Information No: 21130
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