Nine of European offshore wind’s biggest developers have formed an industry group to focus on health and safety in the fast-growing sector.
The new body, called G9, aims to put safety centre-stage, and to develop and share best practices across an industry that is highly international in its make-up.
“The G9 recognise that individual countries, developers and operators already take health and safety very seriously,” says a statement.
“However, in an industry where there is large-scale development involving companies from many different countries, it is vital to develop and ensure a common approach and understanding of health and safety standards.”
The founders of G9 are Centrica, Dong Energy, E.ON, RWE Innogy, Scottish Power Renewables, SSE, Statkraft, Statoil and Vattenfall.
SSE director of generation Paul Smith has been named chairman of the G9 steering group.
The body will produce its 2012 priorities and objectives soon, and will work with supply chain members, governments and other relevant third-parties.
Although offshore wind has so far proved a relatively benign environment compared to the oil and gas sector, the industry is keen to ensure that it is ready for the challenges that will accompany working on more and larger projects as the European sector expands.
Source: Recharge
