The success story of the small island of Samso began in 1997, when the Danish government initiated a renewable- energy contest. The small island won the contest and was thereafter challenged to completely eliminate all carbon dioxide (CO2) emisssions that had been contami- nating the island’s atmosphere. This task was successfully completed in only ten years.

Today, the 112 km2 island, in the Kattegat Sea, between Denmark and Sweden, is a showcase of clean power generation. It generates more energy from renewable sources than it consumes, and the inhabitants profit from sales of surplus power to the mainland.

As is always the case with big plans, someone visionary is needed to convince others to join – and that someone was Soren Hermansen. His primary goal was to get every resident involved and support his vision. His stamina paid off. The ‘Samsingers’, who had formerly been supplied with heating oil by ship and electricity by cable from the mainland, bought shares in windmills, installed solar panels on their roofs, and built central straw burners. They even installed heat exchangers so that they could use cow’s milk for heating and used rapeseed oil as fuel for their tractors.

Today, Hermansen has an excellent international reputation as an expert in the field of renewable energies. He shares his knowledge of alternative technologies with interested people in the Energy Academy, which he founded. The island of Samso, too, has become a worldwide showcase, attracting many international visitors year after year.
Offshore Wind Construction, Installation and Commissioning
Those interested in renewable energies may get useful answers from October 4 to 6, in London, at the Offshore Wind Con- struction, Installation and Commissioning Conference. Some of the questions to be dealt with at the conference are: What work is com- ing up? Where is the potential for the greatest long-term contracts? Which sites are suited to offshore renewable-energy generation?

Participants will receive information from case studies on the world’s largest off- shore wind farms as well as an overview of the challenges arising in offshore wind farms. Lectures will cover challenges ranging from laying telephonic communications, fibre-optics and high-voltage direct current and high-voltage alternating current cables.

Information will be given about foundation options, designs and installation techniques by the established players and the newcomers on structural integrity issues. Of interest should be information on state-of-the-art offshore turbine tech- nology as well as the transport and logistics of major components.

Risk and finance go hand in hand in offshore wind projects and those inter- ested will be able to hear how 65 different projects have been brought through the consent phase.

Keynote presentations will include the following: • market overview of the work expected in the next 18 to 24 months; • farshore wind; • the world’s largest offshore wind farms; • the challenges and benefits of turnkey installation of a sole contractor, compared with multiple contractors; • preparing for farshore wind construction, including the management of resources, equipment, cross-contractor communication and mitigating uncertainties; and • legal insight with respect to contract changes necessary to ensuring the offshore wind market reaches its potential.

For more information visit www.windenergyupdate.com/OWC.