EDITOR’S LETTER
T
otal electricity generation from renewables is currently increasing across Europe, but especially in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Spain. In 2019, Europe installed 15 GW of new wind turbine capacity. The Old Continent can now count
on a cumulative capacity of 205 GW from wind energy, accounting for 15% of the European electricity consumption. Denmark, Ireland, and Portugal were among the major producers in 20191. These final figures for 2019 were issued by WindEurope, the association of European
producers, in a new sector report of which we have included a summary in the next pages. However, despite the good performance of wind energy at the European level – led by the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Sweden, and France, although with different ratios between onshore and offshore structures – the increase in the installation rate should double, in order to achieve the objectives of the European Green Deal2. The increase in wind farms, both on land and at sea, poses major challenges to the sector of protective and anti-corrosion coatings for turbines and rotors. The harsh environmental conditions and the demanding structures both to be coated before installation and to be maintained and repaired over time make any product durability extension and long-term operation guarantee increasingly difficult. In the case of offshore plants, the problem is aggravated by the presence of splash zones, in which any condition of normal degradation is accelerated, thus resulting in premature failure of coatings and structures. The corrosion mitigation issue must be seriously addressed during the planning phase. It itself requires a design stage that includes plans of implementation, monitoring, on-site maintenance, and urgent interventions to tackle any sudden, severe corrosion formations. Research and development of protective coatings, of which we offer numerous examples in this issue devoted to the energy sector and, in particular, the offshore field, has always been focussed on two aspects: increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of the corrosion mitigation action and increasing the products’ ease of application, in workshops and on site. New coatings are also required to meet a greater number of requests with single products. For example, one of the new requirements for coatings intended for splash areas is the combination of protective and anti-fouling properties. You will find many answers to your technical questions in the next pages and in the specialised articles of our contributors. In general, I would like to suggest anyone to approach the issue of corrosion protection with the awareness that no system is infallible and that, during a structure’s service life, problems such as the restoration of coatings or the inclusion of corrective measures in the anti-corrosion systems’ maintenance plan will necessarily have to be addressed.
Alessia Venturi Editor-in-chief
1
Source: www.rinnovabili.it, 17 February, 2020
2
The European Green Deal is the roadmap for making the EU economy sustainable. https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_it
ipcm® Protective Coatings - 2020 JUNE - N.34
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