Wind

This month, Siemens Gamesa will stop making onshore turbines in the US.

There must be something in the water.

Renewable energy companies in Europe have started presenting wind and solar as ‘freedom energy’ while they seek to wean the continent of Russian oil and gas.

“Azerbaijan has effectively leveraged our oil and gas resources in the Caspian Sea for the benefit of our country’s economic development. But the world is changing, and it is time to tap into a new resource in our seas – the power of offshore wind.”

It is eight years since more than 1,000 energy firms in Europe and the US were hit by malware from Russian hackers Energetic Bear.

Renewables companies are losing out on talented professionals because of overt and subtle discrimination against workers from black and ethnic minority backgrounds, says Ollie Folayan, co-founder and CEO of the Association for BME Engineers in the UK. He told Richard Heap how firms can respond.

On Saturday, the worst kept secret in wind was finally confirmed: Siemens Energy wants to pay €4bn for the 33% it does not own of Siemens Gamesa.

In January, the first new onshore wind farm in Colombia for 17 years was commissioned. The 20MW Guajira 1 plant brings the country’s total wind capacity to 38MW.

Richard Heap interviews Sunly CEO Priit Lepasepp about the company’s plans in the Baltics and Poland.

Scott Mackenzie, Head of Asset Management at Swiss asset manager SUSI Partners, has worked in the energy sector for 20 years. Richard Heap caught up with him to discuss the energy crunch, hydrogen and more.

Sam Goss, Head of Investments at Octopus Renewables, joined the company in 2014 and has played a key role in its expansion into the wind industry. Richard Heap spoke to him for his views on innovation in the sector.

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