Supply Chain Analysis of the Offshore Wind Energy Transmission Industry: Overview for the Baltic Sea Region

A supply chain analysis is an essential tool in increasing the efficiency and speed of product and service delivery. An up-to-date analysis of the offshore wind supply chain is vital to the success of the Baltic InteGrid project, an interdisciplinary and transnational research initiative to optimize offshore wind development in the Baltic Sea Region. The following report provides project stakeholders with an overview of the current supply chain for key components of the offshore wind transmission system, including subsea cables, converters, transformers, substation foundations, and protective equipment for offshore wind service and maintenance activities. The report forecasts supply capacities for 2020, 2025, and 2030 to identify possible bottlenecks and market potentials for component supply, maintenance, and services, with a particular focus on small and medium-sized enterprises.
The information in this report was collected from interviews with current EU market leaders, as well as from publicly available profiles that identify companies’ targeted market segments. The data reveal that, in the EU and Baltic Sea offshore wind market, equipment production takes place under significant cost pressure and highly competitive conditions. Companies seeking to enter the offshore wind market face significant entry barriers, which are especially formidable for SMEs. This environment creates openings for larger companies (e.g., suppliers from Asia) to enter the European market.