Climate
RWE announces Competition that Calls for Global Innovations in Floating Wind Co-use.

RWE, a global leader in offshore wind energy, has officially opened entries for its inaugural “Floating Wind Co-use Competition”, targeting innovators worldwide. The company aims to harness creative solutions that champion both biodiversity enhancement and harmonious co-existence with other maritime activities.
Central to this competition is RWE’s commitment to foster sustainable and inventive approaches tailored for floating offshore wind projects. RWE has achieved ground-breaking and innovative milestones like the installation of the first-ever recyclable rotor blades and the establishment of ‘green’ fuel operation vessels. The firm is also delving into the potential of artificial reefs to boost marine biodiversity.
Sven Utermöhlen, CEO of RWE Offshore Wind, remarked, “Sustainability and biodiversity are not mere buzzwords for us; they’re embedded in every phase of our wind farm projects. We’re urging innovators to bring forth technology and ideas that can augment our efforts to establish offshore wind farms that genuinely benefit the marine ecosystem.”
The competition welcomes entries from a diverse range of participants, from start-ups and research entities to individual inventors. RWE’s emphasis lies in nurturing innovations that not only reduce environmental impacts on marine life but also positively transform the marine ecosystem, aiding local marine stakeholders and particularly supporting fisheries.
Champions of this competition stand to gain invaluable insights by collaborating with RWE’s experts, translating their concepts into real-world applications for floating offshore wind farms in regions spanning Europe, Asia, and America. Moreover, the winners will receive a monetary research grant to refine and amplify their inspirational ideas.
In the global arena, RWE is setting the gold standard by steering efforts toward affordable, commercial-scale floating wind solutions. With landmark demonstration projects already underway in Spain and Norway, RWE’s influence is palpable. The company is poised to make waves in the upcoming UK Round 5 Seabed Lease auction for floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea, foreseen as a lucrative opportunity for the broader Celtic Sea region and the UK.
Danielle Lane, RWE’s Director of Offshore Wind Development for UK and Ireland, highlighted the competition’s broader vision, stating, “Floating wind development in the Celtic Sea isn’t just about energy; it’s about fuelling economic growth, fostering innovation, and nurturing local communities. Our competition is designed to place innovation and biodiversity at the epicentre of our projects.”
Competition entrants have until the stroke of midnight (CEST) on 31st December 2023 to present their transformative ideas. For comprehensive details and to submit entries, visit www.rwe.com/floating-wind-competition
Climate
Blue Gem Wind shares wind speed data with Wales’ Marine Energy Test Area

BLUE GEM WIND, a joint venture between TotalEnergies and Simply Blue Group, have shared important wind speed data with Wales’ Marine Energy Test Area (META).
The data was collected as part of the development of the Erebus floating wind project, which is planned to be built approximately 45km off the coast of Pembrokeshire.
Mike Scott, Project Managing Director at Blue Gem Wind, said: “We installed a met mast on the Angle Peninsula in early 2021 to understand wind speed and other weather-related data for the development of our Erebus floating wind project. Working with Marine Energy Wales we are happy to provide data we have collected to support the ongoing development plans at META .”
META operates eight sites in and around the Milford Haven waterway. It offers testing in real sea conditions for wave, tidal and floating offshore wind technology, alongside world-class port, engineering, and manufacturing facilities.
As the only pre-consented, pre-commercial test facility of its kind in the country, META is dedicated to reducing the time, cost and risks associated with the deployment and commercialisation of marine energy technologies, saving companies valuable time and money.
Saul Young, META Operations Manager said: “We are pleased to be collaborating with Blue Gem Wind and to be sharing data in this way. Not only will it help improve our understanding of conditions at the East Pickard Bay site, but it will also help support the development of the sector by providing technology developers and researchers accurate data with which to plan their innovative projects at META. META has a growing catalogue of data for our various sites, and we are committed to expanding our collection.”
Climate
Innovative Pembrokeshire net zero project in gains momentum

IN A GROUNDBREAKING move towards achieving net zero emissions, RWE and Dragon LNG have embarked on a pioneering venture that could reshape the industrial landscape of South Wales. The collaboration aims to develop the Multi-Utility Service Transit (MUST) infrastructure project along the Milford Haven Waterway, a significant stride in the region’s journey towards sustainability.
The MUST project is currently under a feasibility study to determine its potential impact. This visionary project promises numerous environmental benefits, including the complete elimination of CO2 emissions from Dragon LNG’s regasification process. This is achievable through the innovative use of residual process heat from RWE’s Pembroke Power Station generators.
Another significant aspect of the project is establishing a route to export CO2 from a potential carbon capture plant at Pembroke Power Station. Additionally, the project paves the way for developing CO2 liquefaction, storage, and shipping capabilities at Dragon LNG. This will further strengthen the UK’s position in global environmental efforts.
Moreover, the project aims to establish an additional export route for blue and green hydrogen from the south to the north side of the Milford Haven waterway. This would potentially include hydrogen from RWE’s Pembroke Green Hydrogen projects, marking a significant advancement in renewable energy technology.
Beyond environmental benefits, the MUST project offers a unique opportunity for other industries to access crucial infrastructure for broader industrial decarbonisation. This includes supply water, direct wire connections from potential offshore renewables, and other utilities or products.
The South Wales Industrial Cluster (SWIC) Deployment Project, a flagship collaborative effort, encapsulates the MUST project as a critical component in achieving net zero infrastructure. It has received significant backing from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through its Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge program, assisting in the engineering and design phases.
Dr Bryony Livesey, Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF) Director for Industrial Decarbonisation, highlighted the project’s importance in achieving the UK’s net zero emissions goal by 2050. She expressed enthusiasm for supporting the MUST project to meet its objectives.
Sarah Jennings, Executive Director at Natural Resources Wales, emphasized their commitment to supporting the project through its feasibility stage. She stressed the importance of balancing decarbonisation ambitions with the conservation of sensitive natural sites like the Pembrokeshire Marine SAC and Milford Haven Waterway SSSI.
Simon Ames, MD of Dragon LNG and Dragon Energy, expressed excitement about Dragon’s future role in community and environmental sustainability. He acknowledged the importance of government and regulatory support to ensure sustainable development while protecting the environment.
Richard Little, RWE Director of PNZC, expressed delight over the funding received for the MUST project. He underlined the project’s role as a key enabler of RWE’s Pembroke Net Zero Centre (PNZC), a comprehensive multi-technology decarbonisation initiative in South Wales.
The MUST project stands as a beacon of innovation and sustainability, promising a greener, cleaner future for Pembrokeshire and beyond. With significant support from industry leaders and government bodies, it marks a pivotal moment in the region’s environmental journey.
Climate
How Welsh residents can use clean energy in their homes

In the next decade, Wales aims to reach 100% of its internal electricity demands through renewable sources. The climate change minister remains at the forefront of ensuring sustainable energy sources in the country.
One way Welsh residents can join in the effort to use clean energy is by adopting renewable energy sources in their homes. These renewable energy sources provide clean and efficient energy without negatively impacting the environment.
Furthermore, these eco-friendly energy sources save money spent on electricity. It aids Welsh residents living in sustainable homes while saving the environment. Let’s dive deep into finding how to transform your houses into energy-efficient and sustainable homes.
What Is It?
Clean energy is pure energy extracted from nature without any pollutants produced with its usage. This energy is highly beneficial for the environment as it doesn’t leave behind any pollutants. It harnesses nature’s power with sources including:
⦁ Sun energy
⦁ Wind
⦁ Water
⦁ Air
Unlike traditional, clean energy sources don’t release harmful pollutants into the air. Green energy, sourced from natural elements, has a key distinction.
Renewable energy from these clean sources comes from continually replenished resources. Thus, it ensures they never run out, unlike non-renewable sources like fossil fuels.
The essence of clean energy is generating power without any potential harm to the environment for citizens.
Choosing clean energy is good for the environment. It helps protect Wale’s natural resources and lowers the chances of environmental disasters.
Because Wale’s government invests heavily in clean energy sources, they can create stable power supplies, strengthening the country’s energy security.
How to Use Clean Energy Sources in Homes
Welsh residents are quickly adopting clean energy sources in their daily routines. Here is a look at some different clean energy sources for Welsh citizens to incorporate:
- Rooftop Solar Panels
The most common source of renewable energy is solar. It includes mounting solar panels on your rooftop to utilize the sun’s energy that gets converted into power. The more solar panels mounted on your rooftop, the more power it generates.
Additionally, homeowners can invest in lithium batteries as storage backups during nighttime or cloudy days. It ensures a continuous energy supply in your home, enough to power basic home appliances.
Homeowners can contribute the surplus electricity to the grid and earn compensation. It ensures a steady supply of energy in your house. This is the best option for users looking to homestead upcountry. - Tubular Skylights
Sometimes, you need to light up your house during the day. Clustered homes without a sufficient supply of natural light depend on lightning. It leads to increased energy bills and carbon footprint.
A natural way to light up your homes during sunny days is through these innovative tubular skylights. These skylights don’t create electricity but redirect free natural light into your home.
It’s a highly dependable system similar to a reliable paper writing service online since you know what you’re signing up for. It contains a dome of metal tubes running between the dome on the roof, with the diffuser mounted on the ceiling.
The inner tubing has a reflective coating reflecting natural sunlight into your home. These systems are easy to install. Also, they are highly rigid to fit into small spaces. Unfortunately, they tools can’t work during nighttime. - Wind Turbine
Wind turbines are an underrated source of clean energy for homeowners. Especially for ones looking for sustainable living options, harnessing wind power that converts kinetic energy into electricity. Thus, this reduces homeowner’s dependence on fossil fuels.
The market is full of small wind turbines suited for residential applications. Hence, homeowners can choose their preferred wind turbine size depending on their energy needs.
Moreover, most wind turbines occupy a maximum of 10 or 20 square feet of ground space, thus making them viable options for small residential homes. Unlike solar power, these turbines can generate electricity day and night on sunny and cloudy days. - Solar Water Heating
People in Wales are very interested in solar water heating systems because they are easy to use. These systems change the sun’s free energy into hot water. The good thing is that when experts set them up, they don’t need much looking after them.
Solar water heating systems comprise panels and tubes that gather solar energy, converting sunlight into heat.
Installing these systems ensures a steady supply of hot water throughout the year. To cope with winter, adding a boiler or immersion heater is necessary. Moreover, homeowners benefit from lower energy bills since solar energy is free.
Additionally, using solar water heating systems helps reduce one’s carbon footprint by lowering carbon dioxide emissions, contributing to a healthier planet.
Future of Wales’s Energy Consumption
In Wales, the future looks promising for sustainable living. The government is determined to satisfy all electricity needs with renewable sources. People generally agree that completely relying on renewable sources is better than relying on fossil fuels.
As Wales’ population keeps expanding, we see higher energy demand. The solution is turning to renewable sources and clean energy to meet this growing need sustainably.
The change to clean energy is precedented by local authorities crafting policies necessitating the usage of renewable energy. With more areas driving towards becoming energy-sufficient, governments and corporations are leading the way in fighting for renewable power.
Our dependence on fossil fuels for years has significantly impacted the climate. We are experiencing the effects of these practices, with global warming becoming a major talking point on the global stage.
Clean energy guarantees an avenue to alternate fossil fuels. The market has yet to fully explore the possibility of relying on renewable sources for daily demands. However, the conversation is happening at a rapid rate.
Final Takeaway
Wales began utilizing renewable energy to meet its internal electricity demands by 2035. Hence, locals should start opening up to sustainable homes relying on clean energy. These options are sustainable ways homeowners can incorporate their energy sufficiency without any adverse climate impacts.
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