Synopsis:
Offshore wind energy is a promising technology for decarbonising power systems. Development thus far was driven by RES support schemes. Nowadays, offshore wind is being auctioned, which is believed to be a cost-efficient process which has seen costs plummeting in the last 5 years. These most recent cost reductions indicate that offshore wind is now cheaper than thermal generators in most European countries. We harmonise the auction results from five countries based on their design features, showing that offshore wind can be considered commercially competitive across northern Europe and answer the question of whether offshore wind is now subsidy-free.

Bio:
Malte is a Research Associate specialising in energy systems with high shares of renewables, at the Centre of Environmental Policy at Imperial College London. He is an expert in renewable and conventional power plant technology, energy market design, econometric modelling and sustainable energy engineering and wind power forecasting. He is a co-convenor for the Energy Policy option of the MSc Environmental Technology.

He is one of the founders of Power Swarm, a network for academics, industry and government experts working on power system transformation. Malte’s research has shown large impact in the public domain, leading the debate on the energy system’s policy. His commentary has appeared in Financial Times, Der Spiegel, New Scientist, neue energie and energate messenger. Recent appointments as a Consultant at E4tech have been on projects in energy systems, sector coupling, demand response and water electrolysis.

Malte is a doctor of energy economics (Dr. rer. pol.) and wrote his thesis on the economics of wind and solar in markets for power system reserve. He holds degrees in engineering and economics.