Last Thursday 2/3 and Friday 3/3, Instra Engineers as a member of GOE (Galician Offshore Energy Group) since its foundation in 2013, participated in the Galician Observatory of Marine Wind Energy and the GOinterHUB23 Congress. The congress brought together the main promoters and suppliers of the world's offshore wind sector and the main authorities of the Government of Spain and the Xunta de Galicia.
Offshore wind energy is strategic for the energy independence and decarbonization of the EU in the next 20 years, and also for the industrial, technological and social development of Galicia. Today we already have leading Galician suppliers in the supply of equipment and systems for this sector, we have engineering firms with experience and capabilities for project development, and our socio-economic fabric allows for the development of innovative projects in Galicia, ranging from the measurement of marine wind resources with LiDAR/SODAR floating systems and new correction algorithms (our Zoa project) to the design of new robotized welding systems for floating structures, involving numerous SMEs, universities and research institutes.
The publication of the POEM marks a milestone to continue working intensively and thus make these projects a reality in Galicia. The lines of work must address at least two critical aspects:
-1) How "Promoters" generate true impact in the value chain and in the industrial and technological development of Galicia, not only as the sale of expectations for when wind parks are executed, but already in the current phase of project development, which should involve the local hiring of technical and environmental service companies, promotion management, and R&D project development. All of this will help us avoid the talent drain related to engineering and research and allow us to be prepared for the execution and operation phase. -2) Coexist offshore wind energy projects with other activities carried out in the marine environment, and especially with "Fishing", a strategic sector in Galicia. By studying and evaluating the impacts from a technical and scientific perspective, and in case of occurrence, we must propose how they are compensated and managed with local communities, ensuring that the "Fishing" sector on our coasts is also in the next 20 years: of high value in employment and food security, competitive and sustainable.
At Instra, we will continue to invest resources in R&D projects related to offshore wind and contribute our capabilities, knowledge, and experience in the development of offshore wind energy projects to promoters and companies that bet on the Galician value chain.
