International analyses indicate that around € 40 billion will be invested in new offshore wind farms in Europe over the coming 4 years. This money will be on the agenda when Offshore Center Danmark stages the annual international B2B event for the offshore wind industry – OWIB – also known as the Offshore International Business2Business event on November 14 and 15. A long string of players in the offshore sector use the OWIB to build bridges to new partners, and a great deal of companies have already signed up for the event.
According to the 325 participants’ own calculations, 5,100 contacts were made in a single day last year, and the ambition is to reach 500 participants and a corresponding growth in the number of contacts made at this year’s OWIB.
Development Manager Morten Holmager from Offshore Center Danmark observes:
“The most recent estimates from international institutes indicate that around € 40 billion is expected to be invested in establishment of wind installations in Europe over the next 4 years. The expertise built up by Danish companies in offshore wind technology through the past 20 years means Denmark’s position remains strong, but it’s also necessary to think across borders to exploit the expertise built up by the sector. The OWIB is an obvious opportunity for companies and organisations to meet one another in an international forum.”
He adds:
“With participants from 11 nations, we proved last year that the OWIB is an important meeting place for players in the global offshore wind sector. The OWIB 2012 will build on last year’s success, so we’re ambitious, and we expect a lot of the event. In order to ensure optimum focus on the international market, the OWIB has been organised in collaboration with the organisation Work in Denmark under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.”
Extra day for conference
As in previous years, the OWIB’s concept involves brief, informal meetings between operators, producers, suppliers, energy companies and consultants in the offshore wind industry. Prior to the conference, participants have the chance to inform Offshore Center Danmark of specific companies or people they would like to meet – one might call it a kind of speed dating for business.
Small suppliers have the opportunity to present new products and ideas for potential partners and investors, and producers and energy companies can approach new suppliers or look for joint venture partners across borders.
An extra day has been added to the OWIB 2012. The Danish Wind Industry Association and Esbjerg Business Development Centre are going to prepare a conference programme that will focus on the sector’s future challenges under the heading “The Future Demand of the Offshore Wind Supply Chain.”
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Press release, September 3, 2012; Image: Offshore Center Danmark