The Roermond pipe builder Sif is increasingly involved in the dismantling and replacement of offshore wind turbines that are at the end of their technical and economic life.
CEO Fred van Beers of the maker of foundations for offshore windmills said this in an explanation of the annual figures.
dismantling
According to Van Beers, there will be an increasing demand for the dismantling of wind turbines. He cited the Yttre Stengrund wind farm as an example, which was completed at the beginning of this century and was the first offshore windmill project to be decommissioned.
monopiles
The fact that Sif wants to focus more on the dismantling of old wind turbines will not be at the expense of the production of new ones. monopiles, huge piles that are anchored in the seabed and on which the entire windmill is placed. Sif expects to take the final investment decision in early July regarding the expansion of its production locations.
15 meters in diameter
The piles that Sif is now making for the Dogger Bank wind farm off the British coast have a diameter of almost 9 meters. According to Sif, that is almost the maximum size the company can make in its existing factories. After the expansion, Sif wants to be able to produce piles with a diameter of 11.5 and possibly 15 meters.
Ukraine
Van Beers also points out the role of offshore wind turbines in reducing dependence on fossil energy. The war in Ukraine, he says, separates from the human tragedy, makes it very clear that there is “imbalance” in access to and ownership of fossil energy. “This could be a catalyst for the demand for even more renewable offshore wind energy,” said Van Beers. According to the CEO, it would make a big difference if permitting processes for wind farms were simplified in order to boost growth. He does acknowledge that the high demand for wind turbines could lead to a shortage of raw materials such as steel in the short term.
Revenue
Sif recorded a turnover of almost 423 million euros last year. Nearly 12 million euros remained under the line. According to the company, the corona crisis has had little impact on the production of monopiles† Sif also did not have to apply for government support to get through the crisis.