How to promote the sustainable development of offshore wind power? Notice from the National Energy Administration is here!

In recent years, various provinces and cities in my country have actively responded to national strategic decisions. Guangdong, Shandong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Guangxi, Fujian, Shanghai, Tianjin, Liaoning and other provinces and cities have planned during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period. The total newly added offshore wind power grid-connected installed capacity is about 51GW. Together with Hainan, Hebei and other provinces and cities that have not released specific offshore wind power installation plans, it is expected that the domestic new offshore wind power grid-connected installed capacity during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period is expected to exceed 60GW.

In the first three quarters of 2022, the country’s new grid-connected wind power installed capacity was 19.24 million kilowatts, including 18 million kilowatts of onshore wind power and 1.24 million kilowatts of offshore wind power. In the context of dual carbon strategies and dual energy consumption controls, coastal provinces are increasingly demanding to accelerate the development of offshore wind power. At present, Zhejiang, Shandong and Guangdong provinces have clearly introduced provincial subsidy policies for offshore wind power to promote a smooth transition from subsidies to parity in the development of offshore wind power projects.

In order to promote the safe and sustainable development of offshore wind power, the National Energy Administration recently issued the "Notice on Further Strengthening the Safety Risk Prevention and Control of Offshore Wind Power Projects" (hereinafter referred to as the "Notice"). The "Notice" puts forward 36 specific requirements for strengthening the safety risk prevention and control of offshore wind power projects from six aspects: strictly implementing the main responsibilities of enterprises, strengthening construction safety management, strengthening operation and maintenance safety management, strengthening network-related safety management, and strengthening emergency management.

In terms of strictly implementing the main responsibilities of enterprises, the "Notice" clarifies that the survey, design, equipment manufacturing, construction, installation and commissioning, operation and maintenance and other units of offshore wind power projects shall bear corresponding responsibilities in accordance with laws and regulations. The safety production responsibilities and power grid enterprises should implement the main responsibility for power grid safety production, strengthen network-related safety management such as the access and operation monitoring of offshore wind power projects, and ensure the safety of power grid operations.

Regarding strengthening construction safety management, the "Notice" requires the construction unit of offshore wind power projects to obtain permission from the maritime agency where the construction is located before operation, and to ensure safety and offshore wind power as required. The safety facilities of the project must be designed, constructed, put into production and used at the same time as the main project.

In terms of strengthening operation and maintenance safety management, the "Notice" requires owners and operation and maintenance units of offshore wind power projects, offshore wind power operation and maintenance personnel, as well as offshore wind turbines, submarine cables, and booster stations. and other related primary equipment, secondary equipmentPrepare for various requirements. For example, the owners and operation and maintenance units of offshore wind power projects should have safety monitoring instruments that comply with national and industry requirements on offshore wind turbine foundations, booster stations, submarine cables and other equipment.

At present, offshore wind power planning in many provinces and cities across the country continues to increase, and the costs of all links in the superimposed industrial chain continue to decrease. Offshore wind power installed capacity is expected to grow rapidly. Industry insiders also continue to be optimistic about the installed capacity demand and development space of the wind power industry. The issuance of the "Notice" will help the power industry strengthen the safety risk prevention and control of offshore wind power projects, continuously improve the safety production level of offshore wind power projects, and promote the safe and sustainable development of offshore wind power.