POWER cluster

POWER cluster
Classification: Interreg project
Interreg branch: Transnational (IVB)
Programme: North Sea Region Programme
Duration: 2008-2011
Budget: 5 million EUR
Homepage: www.power-cluster.net

POWER cluster is a project that aims to establish a business cluster for offshore wind power in the North Sea Region. It is part-funded by the North Sea Region Programme which is part of the transnational branch (IVB) of Interreg, one of the regional policy instruments of the European Union under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). It is the successor of the POWER project funded under Interreg IIIB.[1]

POWER cluster is led by the Bremerhaven Economic Development Company in Germany together with 17 other participants from Germany, United Kingdom, Denmark, The Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.[2]

Offshore wind power

Compared to onshore wind power, offshore wind power is more complex and costly to install and maintain but also has several key advantages. Winds are typically stronger and more stable at sea, resulting in significantly higher production per unit installed. Wind turbines can also be bigger than on land because it is easier to transport very large turbine components by sea. Offshore wind farms also have less potential to cause concern among neighbouring residents.[3]

The wind resources over Europe's seas represent a vast, local source of clean, renewable energy. By generating electricity without fossil fuels and by creating jobs in a sector in which some European businesses are global leaders, offshore wind can contribute to reduced greenhouse gas emissions, to ensuring security of supply and to improving EU competitiveness.[3]

Project objectives

  • Developing an offshore wind power cluster in the North Sea Region (NSR)
  • Adapting and preparing the NSR workforce to the needs of offshore wind energy
  • Creating a business platform to foster offshore wind energy development in the NSR
  • Communicating the benefits of offshore wind energy to the public[2]

Project partners

The lead beneficiary of the POWER cluster project is the Bremerhaven Economic Development Company in Germany. Furthermore, there are 17 beneficiaries from six countries participating in the project.[1]

No.ParticipantCountry
1BIS Bremerhaven Economic Development Company Ltd.Germany
2SUBVE The Senator for Environment, Construction, Transport and European
Affairs, Free State of Bremen		Germany
3University of Applied Sciences BremerhavenGermany
4Technical College BremerhavenGermany
5University of OldenburgGermany
6Foundation Offshore Wind EnergyGermany
7Ministry for Science, Economics and Transport, State of Schleswig-HolsteinGermany
8WAK SH Academy of Economics of Schleswig-HolsteinGermany
9Suffolk County CouncilUnited Kingdom
10EEEGR East of England Energy GroupUnited Kingdom
11Northumberland CollegeUnited Kingdom
12SDEO Southern Denmark European OfficeDenmark
13Offshore Center DanmarkDenmark
14Aalborg UniversityDenmark
15Delft University of TechnologyNetherlands
16Greater StavangerNorway
17Chalmers University of TechnologySweden
18Municipality of ÖckeröSweden

References

  1. 1 2 Project description on the NSR programme website
  2. 1 2 Northern European competence network for offshore wind energy
  3. 1 2 Offshore Wind Energy: Action needed to deliver on the Energy Policy Objectives for 2020 and beyond p. 2.
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