DNV warns Europe must expand manufacturing to meet floating wind targets

Europe must significantly scale up its manufacturing capacity if it is to achieve its floating wind ambitions, a senior executive at DNV has stated. Sille Grjotheim, the global segment director for floating offshore wind at the company, emphasised that access to turbines remains a primary obstacle for developers. Speaking at the ONS conference in Stavanger, she noted that both smaller and larger projects are currently struggling to secure the necessary equipment for testing and deployment. Grjotheim argued that without access to turbines, the construction of floating wind farms cannot proceed, highlighting a critical bottleneck in the sector’s growth trajectory.

This commentary follows recent controversy in the UK regarding the government’s decision to prohibit Chinese manufacturer Ming Yang from establishing a factory in Scotland. The Highlands business community expressed strong opposition to the ban, which blocked a planned turbine and floating foundation manufacturing yard at Haventus’ Ardersier port. The project was projected to generate 1,500 jobs and represented an investment of £1.5 billion. While DNV did not criticise the UK government’s specific policy choice, Grjotheim used the situation to illustrate a broader gap in the supply chain. She clarified that the company does not take a position on individual government decisions, which are matters for policymakers to balance against energy, industrial, and national security considerations.

Grjotheim stressed that the success of floating offshore wind depends on the industry’s ability to scale the entire value chain. This includes not only turbines and floating foundations but also ports, vessels, and grid infrastructure. She warned that as the sector transitions from demonstration phases to commercial-scale deployment, access to suitable components remains a significant challenge. To meet projected demand, the UK and Europe will require a diverse, competitive, and resilient supply chain. This could be achieved through existing suppliers expanding their capacity, new market entrants, or additional investment in domestic manufacturing. Without sufficient access to key components, even well-developed projects risk facing delays to deployment, undermining the sector’s potential to contribute to energy goals.