In 2021, the five founding members said OWFA was formed with an aim to raise awareness about the key role offshore wind foundations play in the sustainable development of offshore wind farms in Europe, and the value of investing in getting the foundations done right from the beginning.
At the end of November, as Haizea Wind joined OWFA, the alliance said it has been a dedicated advocate for the European offshore wind foundations industry, raising the challenges this part of the supply chain faces to key European Union policymakers.
“With Haizea on board, the voice of the alliance in the EU policy arena will grow and fuel OWFA’s advocacy efforts to accelerate offshore wind development in Europe”, OWFA stated in a press release in November.
In July this year, OWFA published a 2024 manifesto titled No offshore wind without European foundations, in which the alliance states that monopiles are an area where EU-based manufacturing makes a real difference in the overall climate outcome with EU-produced monopiles emitting up to 99 per cent less CO2 during transport, compared to those typically imported from outside of the EU.
As for Haizea, primarily a wind turbine tower manufacturer, the Spanish company has expanded into and ramped up work in the foundations manufacturing field.
This October, the company produced the first monopile foundation for Iberdrola’s East Anglia Three offshore wind project at its facility in Bilbao, Spain.
In August this year, Haizea Wind Group secured a EUR 35 million green loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to enhance manufacturing technologies and research and development (R&D) for wind turbine components such as towers, monopile foundations, and offshore wind farm transition pieces (TPs).
“Haizea’s membership marks an important milestone in our journey as an alliance. Their participation will contribute immensely to our policy work, reinforcing our position as a diverse and representative industry voice within the European context. As part of OWFA, Haizea will play an essential role in ensuring that the European foundations industry is better equipped to co-develop sustainable, fair, and progressive policies that drives Europe and the world forward”, OWFA said as Haizea became its sixth member.
