Bremerhaven, 23 September 2020 - The Wind Energy Cluster WAB e.V. today signed a three-year cooperation agreement with its Scottish partner DeepWind. The aim of the agreement is to cooperate more closely with joint initiatives for the expansion of offshore wind power and the development of a market for "green" hydrogen from wind energy.
Joint matchmaking and networking events are among the planned initiatives. In addition, WAB and DeepWind will exchange and analyse information, experiences and knowledge and keep each other informed about progress in joint projects. In this way, the partners intend to promote the offshore wind industry and the production of "green" hydrogen at sea transnationally and to support the supply chains in both countries in their exchange and practical cooperation.
The cooperation agreement was initiated by a WAB delegation visit at the beginning of the year. "We visited our DeepWind colleagues in Aberdeen with several WAB members in January and immediately noticed our common ground: Our shared experience in the maritime industry plays an important role, as do the companies' complementary backgrounds," said WAB e.V. Managing Director Heike Winkler. "I am looking forward to our cooperation, with which we will create a platform for a closer exchange between our markets and which is intended to make it easier for small and medium-sized companies in particular to enter the market and simplify cooperation with larger market players," she added.
"The Scottish government has understood the importance of rapidly expanding offshore wind power and entering into the production of 'green' hydrogen for the climate-friendly energy supply of the future. As agreed in its coalition agreement, the German government should follow up with a short-term special tender for offshore wind and also present a concrete plan on how the hydrogen strategy presented can be implemented in a market economy," said Irina Lucke, Chairwoman of the WAB e.V. Executive Board.
"I look forward to the exchange between our members and the WAB member companies", said Paul O'Brien, Cluster Manager of the DeepWind Offshore Wind Cluster. "Scotland has a quarter of Europe's offshore wind potential. This offers great opportunities for the cost-effective large-scale production of 'green' hydrogen".
"I welcome the close cooperation of WAB with its Scottish partners. This cooperation has the potential to drive innovation on both sides in developing offshore wind and 'green' hydrogen production. This is conducive to added value and jobs here in the region and accelerates our joint progress towards a climate-neutral Europe in the long-term," said Kristina Vogt, Bremen's Senator for Economic Affairs, Labour and Europe.
Screenshot © WAB: WAB e.V. Chairwoman of the Exexutive Board Irina Lucke and Dan Finch, Country Manager Ocean Winds, sign the cooperation agreement during their online meeting on 23 September
Offshore-Picture: © WindMW Service GmbH
About WAB
Bremerhaven-based WAB is the nationwide contact partner for the offshore wind industry in Germany and the leading business network for onshore wind energy in the north-west region. The association fosters the production of "green" hydrogen from wind energy. It comprises some 250 smaller and larger businesses as well as institutes from all sectors of the wind industry, the maritime industry as well as research. www.wab.net
Contact
Hans-Dieter Sohn | Senior Communications and Marketing Manager WAB e.V. | +49 173 2382802 | hans.sohn @ wab.net
