Decommissioning, lifetime extension or repowering: taking the right decision

Policy & markets

When: Thursday, 27 September 2018, 16:30 - 17:45
Where: Room: Hamburg

Session description

Wind energy assets have an end to their operational lifetime. A significant proportion of the installed EU wind fleet will come to the end of its lifetime between 2020 and 2030. WindEurope estimates that the yearly repowering volume grows from 1-2 GW in 2017 and stabilises to 5.5-8.5 GW by 2027. The main markets will be Germany, Spain, Italy, Denmark, Portugal and France. As the wind energy industry matures, project owners and asset managers are faced with the decisions to either re-power or extend the lifetime of wind turbines. Either option would require a careful consideration of the risks and benefits. Moreover, these decommissioned wind energy assets will not count for the delivery of the EU 2030 renewable energy target. A pro-active approach to repowering and lifetime extension - alongside new projects – will be critical to deliver on the EU’s 2030 climate and energy objectives. To date, only six EU Member States have included definitions of repowering in their national legislation. Only one country – Italy – has enacted incentives for repowering. And not a single Member State has implemented shorter permitting procedures for repowered projects. Tapping into the potential of repowering depends on the existence of a robust regulatory framework and adequate financial arrangements which create the business case for such projects.

Learning objectives

Strategies and tools to be used for maximizing the lifetime from installation to end of life
Overcoming the legal and financial challenges associated with lifetime extension and repowering
How to utilize data sources to make accurate assessments of asset lifespan