Supply chain disruptions, rising operating costs, and a persistent labour shortage are threatening the financial sustainability and decarbonisation goals of the global wind industry, according to a new, in-depth report published by Jotun.
Launched by global protective coatings supplier Jotun at the WindEnergy Hamburg conference, the Global Wind Expansion report draws on new research surveying 650 wind energy component manufacturers and farm operators across 13 countries.
The findings paint a picture of an industry grappling with tight profit margins and surging operational expenditures, leading to project delays and, in extreme cases, high-profile cancellations such as the Hornsea 4 and Ocean Wind projects.
According to the research, 77% of global respondents reported that supply chain disruptions have directly damaged project profitability over the past 18 months. The issue hits hardest in the United Kingdom, where that figure jumps to 90%.
Geopolitical instability is forcing operators to fundamentally restructure their supply chains. Nearly two-thirds of surveyed professionals agree that these constraints directly threaten regional and national energy security goals. However, regional strategies for mitigation vary widely:
- Germany & Denmark: Favor supplier consolidation (38% and 32% respectively) to centralise risk management.
- Taiwan & Spain: Prioritise simplified coating applications (36% and 32%) to cut down on labour hours.
Labor challenges are compounding logistical hurdles. 80% of respondents stated that their projects are impacted by a shortage of skilled labour. Despite the talent crunch, opinions remain divided on how to bridge the gap. While industry experts debate whether to aggressively recruit experienced talent from the more established offshore oil and gas sector, only 52% of offshore operators currently support this approach.
To combat these escalating logistical and workforce hurdles, the wind industry is pivoting toward long-term asset resilience. 67%, indicate that reducing the frequency of maintenance shutdowns is their primary strategy for maximising energy output.
While offshore environments are traditionally viewed as harsher and more expensive to maintain, the report uncovers an overlooked vulnerability in the onshore market. 55% of onshore respondents reported that unplanned coating degradation has impacted their initial budgets, compared to 39% of offshore operators, as onshore projects grow larger and face scaled maintenance challenges.
“Maintenance can be one of the highest costs to an operational wind farm. Regardless of whether a project is onshore or offshore, improving maintenance operations is critical to ensure profitability. Leveraging advanced coating technologies can yield dramatic efficiencies—such as saving up to seven application days and reducing time spent on coating works per offshore foundation by 65%—helping operators mitigate risks at a time when every delay impacts the bottom line,” has stated Jakob Diget, Global R&D Manager for Energy at Jotun.