OMNI Features｜Renewables Provided Record 32% of Global Electricity in 2024．Chinese Manufacturer Dajin Sets Up Floating Wind Unit．Norwegian Gov’t Progresses Subsidy Model for Utsira Nor and Plans to Launch Floating Wind Tender after ESA Approval

｜Renewables Provided Record 32% of Global Electricity in 2024
A report by energy think tank Ember said renewable power generation provided a record 32% of the global electricity mix in 2024, beating the previous year's 30% record. Overall, electricity demand grew 4%, driven by heatwaves and data centres.

The report showed that the rise in electricity consumption for artificial intelligence, data centres, electric vehicles, and heat pumps contributed 0.7% of the global demand growth last year. Heatwaves in 2024 increased electricity demand for cooling, which added a further 0.7% to the global total.

Despite geopolitical and economic headwinds, the renewables industry delivered an additional 858 TWh of generation to the system last year — more than the combined annual electricity consumption of the UK and France. An Ember electricity and data analyst pointed out that energy security fears, exacerbated by a trade war prompted by U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs, could further boost demand for renewable power this year. Though it was too early to tell whether the tariff fallout would impact electricity demand this year, renewable power could benefit.

｜Chinese Manufacturer Dajin Sets Up Floating Wind Unit
Chinese manufacturer Dajin has set up a dedicated floating wind unit based in Madrid, Spain, to strengthen its capabilities as a global supplier of foundations for the offshore wind industry. Carlos Martin will join Dajin as part of its newly created floating wind team this month.

The floating wind team will contribute to Dajin achieving its mission of delivering a one-stop floating foundation solution - spanning manufacturing, transportation, assembly, and final delivery. This is designed to support developers and EPC contractors in reducing costs and accelerating large-scale commercialisation.

The division's new chief commercial officer Walid Oulmane served as head of sourcing and ports at BlueFloat Energy. Francisco Villazón, who has been appointed as head of engineering for floating wind, held the same role at BlueFloat Energy.

｜Norwegian Gov’t Progresses Subsidy Model for Utsira Nor and Plans to Launch Floating Wind Tender after ESA Approval
The Norwegian Ministry of Energy has notified the European Free Trade Association's (EFTA) Surveillance Authority (ESA) of the support model for a floating wind project in the Utsira Nord area and expects to open the tender for the area as soon as ESA has approved the model. The tender will be carried out in 2 stages, starting with the Norwegian government allocating 3 sites through a competition based on qualitative criteria. After the floating wind sites have been allocated, there will be a maturation period of about two years, followed by a competitive auction to obtain state support.

Through this tender, Norway will award a subsidy for one project of up to 500 MW to the developer that requires the least state aid to realise the project. The funding is capped at NOK 35 billion (approximately EUR 3 billion) and will be provided as investment support.

Shortly after completing the fixed-bottom tender in March last year, the Norwegian government announced it was postponing the process for Utsira Nord to 2025. The Ministry of Energy said that based on the dialogue with the EFTA Surveillance Authority, it had decided to establish and notify about "a common model for state aid" for the floating wind area before project sites are awarded.

Reference:Reuters｜Renews｜offshorewind.biz