Myself and Tomos Davies had only chatted over LinkedIn a couple of times. However, a few weeks ago we were able to have a real conversation. Albeit virtually. Tomos is working in the offshore wind sector in the Celtic Sea. An area of the ocean you may not be familiar with, but a lot is planned for this stretch of water between Wales and England. This is because offshore wind farms will start to emerge from the depths after the recent announcements of new development sites by the Crown Estate
But why is this happening? In 2023, the UK’s offshore wind capacity was 14GW. By 2030 this is expected to grow to 50GW – if we are to meet net zero targets. To put this into perspective, according to OFGEM, the current peak demand for electricity in Great Britain is 61.9 GW. The next 7 years will be busy. There will be report writing, designing, shipping, manufacturing, and construction crews finding their sea legs.
So where does Tomos come in? His story is interesting, as he wasn’t always working in the renewable energy sector, starting off as a geologist in the Americas for a company called Shell. After studying geology, he was responsible for conducting field trips which taught geologists to locate oil to fuel our homes and businesses. This was before net zero was a buzzword our vocabulary.
The oil and gas industry is still alive and kicking, very hard too, much to the dismay of environmental campaigners. Proposals to light up untouched oil and gas reserves are still coming thick and fast, just like the contentious decision for the Rosebank oil field currently ongoing here in the UK. In respect to the USA were Tomos was based, is the world's third-largest petroleum producer, with more than 500,000 producing wells and approximately 4,000 oil and natural gas platforms operating in U.S. waters. This industry is still a major employer for millions of people and a powerhouse for other industries, so turning off the taps immediately is not an option to many. Terms like ‘transition’ and ‘decarbonisation’ scome into play here. And if you look beyond the greenwashing and using these terms without proper commitment and action, it is a vital step in changing our energy generation. So after meeting his wife and returning home to South Wales, Tomos undertook his own transition.
With the sounds of small feet appearing, Tomos shared an important moment he experienced once he was settled at home. He was skimming stones at a local river now in pristine condition and safe to enjoy after restoration efforts. It was here he discovered he was working towards the big picture and for the generations to come. If you work in an industry, similar to myself and Tomos, it is sometimes difficult to see the difference you make immediately. But gradual changes to create a sustainable environment for the future generations, which you may not experience yourself, is one of the reasons why Tomos does what he does. And for Tomos, skimming stones with his son was his reminder.
His passion for learning and innovation radiated from the screen during our call. This skillset will be vital within an emerging sector in the UK. As we mentioned in our chat, 74% of the scientific publications on environmental impacts from offshore windfarms have only been published in the last 8 years (Galparsoro et al, 2022). This industry is young. Although there is one advantage, and it involves knocking on your neighbours door to ask for help. That is borrowing knowledge and skills from the oil and gas industry. Sharing knowledge between sectors, whether it be in the planning or construction phase of the projects, is critical to ensure they are delivered sustainably. This collaboration was routine within the oil and gas industry, and the offshore wind and renewable sector will need to follow these steps to ensure projects are carried out efficiently with minimal impact on the environment and maximising energy generation. This is particularly important due to the fast paced development. These developments also require subsea cabling, onshore reinforcements for cable landfalls, and connections to the grid, which bring their own unique constraints.
So how could you change the design of a windfarm to reduce the environmental impact and maximise energy production? Good question. It took a bunch of innovative engineers, with the goal of finding alternative solutions and doing things differently. And the solution is simple (on paper at least). Windfarms can float. You will find the origin of this new concept around 30km east of Peterhead in Scotland, at the Hywind Windfarm. This leads to the question, how are these floating windfarms more beneficial?. Two advantages include:
1. they can be anchored in deep water, which in turn increases access to greater wind speeds, and therefore more green energy.
2. they can be assembled at nearby ports, and towed out to the location which reduces the need for assembly offshore.
In terms of the environmental benefits, these developments reduce the need for piling, which reduces underwater noise that can disturb marine mammals as they rely on echolocation for feeding and navigation. And for the folks that hate the sight of windfarms, they are further out to sea and reduce the visual impact.
So where does this link to Tomos’ role? The UK Government has set an ambition to deliver up to 5GW of floating wind by 2030, most of which will be in the Celtic Sea. With this new design, it requires people like Tomos, with the passion for innovation and collaboration.
But as we all know, sustainability should not only account for environmental and economic considerations, but also the community. In our conversation, we also touched on the role of local communities within the growth of this sector. Tomos hails from South Wales, with his ancestral DNA engrained into the beds of coal still remaining in the area. The coal mining industry boomed in the industrial revolution, powering the UK’s industries and war efforts. By 1891 30 million tonnes of coal was mined in South Wales, which rose to 57 million tonnes by 1913 (Jones, 2014)—equalling one fifth of British coal production. This industry shaped the landscape of south wales today, and also the communities. Now a new industry awaits them.
The role these communities will play in this new sector is an exciting concept, with the hope that it will create long term work for the coastal communities. I also hope mutual benefits can be introduced such as shared ownership, teaching new skills, employment and community funding. There is a great example of community engagement at the Kype Muir windfarm in Scotland which you can read here. One of the difficulties when dealing with communities is the variety of opinions. Nonetheless, this is no excuse to overlook public engagement and funding. After all, these communities will experience the disruption during construction and provide part of the workforce to accommodate these projects.
As our conversation came to an end, I felt a sense of optimism and peace of mind about the future of the renewables industry. Having talented people at the wheel, is exactly what the industry needs. Although I have never worked with Tomos, his awareness of the need for strong leadership and project management was refreshing to hear. He also gave a virtual nod to his former teammates at Shell, suspecting they will be key players in the industry with their skills and resources. It is clear Tomos is working towards a more sustainable future for both his community and family. Creating an unstoppable sense of purpose towards building a better future.
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