Page 11 - AfrElec Week 05 2021

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came under the spotlight during Assembly Global installed offshore a growth trajectory, supported by increased
week, which featured a Ministerial meeting capacity targets from several nations. While
co-hosted by IRENA, the UAE and the UN wind capacity to see 37% staying resilient in an uncertain market was
on initiatives, policies, and targets designed key in 2020, this year the industry finds itself
to simultaneously deliver food, energy and growth in 2021, fueled by positioned for record growth, especially as
climate benefits. commissioning activities pick up pace in Asia
Under the Power Africa agreement, the China and around the world.
two parties will work to expand access to After 2021, China will begin phasing
affordable, reliable, and modern electricity Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the world’s out feed-in-tariffs and many developers are
through off-grid energy solutions that use installed offshore wind capacity rose by 15% therefore pushing to complete projects during
renewable and complementary technologies in 2020, reaching 31.9 gigawatts (GW) at year- the coming period. As such, this year is
to improve economic activity, and enhance the end, from 27.7 GW at the end of 2019, Rystad expected to see high capacity additions in the
provision of essential social services, such as Energy estimates. country.
education, agriculture, water, and healthcare. China was the main contributor in 2020, “China had a construction backlog of
The agreement signed by IRENA Director accounting for 39% of last year’s additions, more than 10 GW going into 2020, and
General Francesco La Camera and Power followed by the Netherlands (18%) and the Chinese developers are racing to reach
Africa Coordinator Mark Carrato, will also UK (17%). maximum commissioning by the end of the
feature joint efforts to improve the provision Rystad Energy expects the global installed year in order to claim full feed-in-tariffs. This
of electricity to displaced refugee communities offshore wind capacity to further increase by means 2021 is going to see major capacity
and settlements, including through the Smart 11.8 GW in 2021, a monumental 37% step- additions, particularly since some projects
Communities Coalition supported by Power up compared to 2020’s 31.9 GW. China will initially scheduled for commissioning in 2020
Africa. Efforts will also be made to co-develop continue to lead the new capacity additions, ended up slipping into 2021,” says Alexander
domestic capacities that facilitate greater contributing 63% of the expected growth. Fløtre, Rystad Energy’s Product Manager for
access to renewable energy finance for African As Covid-19 hit the Chinese market first, Offshore Wind.
entrepreneurs. fears over supply chain disruptions emerged, Europe and the US also saw some delays
At the signing, IRENA Director-General with offshore wind developers worried about due to the pandemic. The developers of the
Francesco La Camera said IRENA is delays to projects down the line. And as the second phase of the 50 MW Kincardine
committed to ensuring the transition brings pandemic spread throughout the world, floating offshore wind project in Scotland and
prosperity and wellbeing to communities risks of a severe slump in construction the Kriegers Flak combined grid solution in
across sub-Saharan Africa. activity grew. More countries closed their Denmark had to delay start-up. In the US,
IRENA borders and went into lockdown and Danish player Ørsted announced in October
several manufacturing sites for turbines and delays of at least one year for five projects due
other components temporarily shut down to permitting issues.
WIND operations. Nevertheless, offshore wind developers
However, with the first wave of the virus stayed committed to their ambitions and
settling, the offshore wind market returned to continued to make final investment decisions

Week 05 04•February•2021 www. NEWSBASE .com P11