Episode 001

Summary:

In this episode, Kristian Jacobsen and Kristian Ravn, two of the three co-founders of energy advisory firm Green Ducklings, join the Gamechangers Video Podcast to discuss how they’re helping to close the gap between political ambitions for offshore wind, and the challenges of building a competent and efficient supply chain that can turn those visions into reality.

Key Take-aways:

Industry Transition Mission:
Green Ducklings helps companies transition into the offshore wind industry, regardless of their origin, be it oil and gas or other sectors.
The company identifies existing competencies within companies and helps them understand and remedy the gaps in their DNA for success in the offshore wind industry.

Supporting Decision-makers:
Green Ducklings collaborates with developers, supply chain companies, governments, engineering firms, and various decision-makers to increase the odds of success in offshore wind projects.
The focus is on making efficient decisions, bridging interests, and simplifying complex information for decision-makers.

Challenges in Industry Expansion:
Offshore wind, initially a northern European phenomenon, now faces challenges in scaling to new markets like Taiwan, Japan, the US, southern Europe, the Mediterranean, and floating wind.Each local context requires reinventing the offshore wind industry, posing challenges in adapting facilities and supply chains.

Political Ambitions vs. Realism:
Political targets for 2050 aim for around 800 gigawatts of offshore wind globally. Challenges exist in achieving these targets, with a realistic projection estimating around 130-140 gigawatts by 2030.The need to bridge the gap between political ambitions and feasible implementation is crucial.

Disruptive Events and Blind Optimism:
Unforeseen events can disrupt the industry overnight, impacting the deployment of offshore wind. Balancing optimism with a realistic view is essential to avoid blind optimism and ensure sustainable growth.

Profitability and Technology Development:
The industry’s historical focus on “bigger is better” has led to notorious unprofitability in certain segments. The challenge lies in balancing the pace of technology development to avoid hindering profitability and rendering previous investments redundant.
Complexity and Impact:
The industry’s high complexity requires efforts to simplify processes and make meaningful connections throughout the supply chain. Addressing the challenges collectively is crucial for the success of the offshore wind industry.

This episode sheds light on the intricate challenges facing the offshore wind industry’s global expansion, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, adaptability, and realistic optimism in achieving long-term sustainability and success.

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