b1023303

FOWT 2023 Panelist

Wed, 10 May 2023 07:16:51 GMT

FOWT 2023 Panelist

Ralf Skowronnek represents World Forum Offshore Wind (WFO) Insurance Subcommittee as its Chairman during the panel discussion on “Consolidation of floater technologies to satisfy nonrecourse project financing criteria” at the FOWT 2023 in Nantes.

The “insurability” as a condition to bankability and as such a prerequisite to a commercial scale FOW is a topic which gains enormous attention these days and was also one of the focal points of the panel discussion at the FOWT 2023.

Sincere thanks to all the panelists for their very insightful and highly valuable contributions.

FOWA 2023 Panel Moderator

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 08:19:55 GMT

FOWA 2023 Panel Moderator

Ralf Skowronnek represents Skowronnek & Bechnak Japan Co. Ltd. at the first Floating Offshore Wind Asia (FOWA) 2023 organized by REASP and WFO as the Panel Moderator.

The panel discussion on “Taking on challenging tasks for promoting commercial scale Floating Offshore Wind - “Financing and Insurance”” provided an excellent forum for the panelists to present their views on what should be done both on the national as well as the international scene to promote and accelerate the commercial scale of FOW.

Sincere thanks to all the panelists for their very insightful and highly valuable contributions:

Elisabeth Palix of EDF Renouvelables
Pelayo Rodriguez Alonso of OceanWinds Japan
Hiroaki Kobayashi of Tokio Marine
Shinya Kotani of Société Générale Japan

Moderated by: Ralf Skowronnek of Skowronnek & Bechnak Japan

Speaker at Australian RINA

Fri, 03 Mar 2023 08:14:27 GMT

Speaker at Australian RINA

Australia, Melbourne, Royal Institute of Naval Architects

Very proud to see Chris Carra of AMOG and Ralf Skowronnek of Skowronnek & Bechnak live at the Mission to Seafarers, Melbourne presenting on “Technical Challenges in Developing Offshore Wind” to the Victorian Section of RINA.

With both Commonwealth and State Governments endorsing offshore wind as the next frontier for energy generation, there will be significant offshore activity in our coastal waters. However, Australia remains behind the likes of China and Europe in developing our wind resource which is of higher quality than either region. This talk will outline some of the technical challenges in developing offshore wind and bringing these lessons learnt back into the Australian context. Specifically, this talk shall outline the challenge of Australianising different offshore wind technologies, present the what, why and how of some specific failures from Floating Wind in Europe and the lessons learnt from O&G operations conducted in Southern and Eastern Australia to ensure that Offshore Wind learns from these mistakes.

We greatly appreciate the unparalleled knowledge and long-term experience of our Australian partner AMOG, the “Australian Marine and Offshore Group” www.amog.consulting

Kühne Logistics University invites Ralf Skowronnek

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 08:12:45 GMT

Kühne Logistics University invites Ralf Skowronnek

Kühne Logistics University in Hamburg invited Ralf Skowronnek to hold a presentation for its alumni and students on the “Offshore Wind Logistics and Insurability”.

The presentation was met with great interest and followed by a very lively Q&A session.

Ralf Skowronnek: I am very happy to see the new generation growing up into their future roles as we will definitely need a well-developed, running and reliable logistics to be able to reach our Offshore Wind and Energy Transition Goals.

Happy Lunar New Year 2023

Sat, 21 Jan 2023 08:11:00 GMT

appy Lunar New Year 2023

Merry Christmas 2022

Sat, 24 Dec 2022 08:09:47 GMT

Merry Christmas 2022

Interviewed by Japanese TV

Wed, 09 Nov 2022 08:02:26 GMT

Interviewed by Japanese TV

We had the opportunity to participate at the Global Offshore Wind Summit 2022 organized in Akita Prefecture in which the first commercial scale Offshore Wind Farm in Japan with 33 x 4.2MW turbines is currently being commissioned.

The progress and timeliness of the works at the Offshore Wind Farm are very impressive and we are proud to be able to watch them from very near distance.

Akita also has a beautiful scenery, including the Akita Castle, Art Gallery a new Akita Conference Center at which the conference was held and beautiful parks and Japanese traditional buildings and shrines. We can only recommend everyone visiting this amazing place.

And one last good news – we made an interview for the Japanese TV: please see the link secured by the fantastic Lady Sayuri Watanabe san the Japan Representative of WFO/GOI ☺

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6996728205105623040/?midToke n=AQFETBE4-AM2wg&midSig=2cyv3yFcy4eWw1&trk=emlemail_notification_single_mentioned_you_in_this_01-notifications-1- hero%7Ecard%7Efeed&trkEmail=eml-email_notification_single_mentioned_you_in_this_01- notifications-1-hero%7Ecard%7Efeed-null-60ocsn%7Elac5fz1c%7Evz-null-voyagerOffline

4 th Japan Wind Energy 2022 Panelist

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 06:50:45 GMT

4 ^th Japan Wind Energy 2022 Panelist

Ralf Skowronnek is a panelist at the “Mitigate the Risk and Uncertainty of Offshore Wind Farms” Panel, together with Mette Cramer Buch – Chief Advisor, Danish Energy Agency , Elisabeth Palix – Offshore Technical Lead – Asia, EDF Renouvelables , Mahdi Behrangrad – Head of VPP/Energy Storage Department, Pacifico Energy , and Michael Bjerrum – CCO & Co-Founder, Shoreline, moderated by Samuel Griffiths – Country Manage, ERSG

Skowronnek & Bechnak Japan Co. Ltd. are proud to be also the Associate Sponsor of JWE 2022.

4 th Japan Wind Energy 2022 Panelist

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 05:44:07 GMT

Ralf Skowronnek is a panelist at the “Mitigate the Risk and Uncertainty of Offshore Wind Farms” Panel, together with Mette Cramer Buch – Chief Advisor, Danish Energy Agency , Elisabeth Palix – Offshore Technical Lead – Asia, EDF Renouvelables, Mahdi Behrangrad – Head of VPP/Energy Storage Department, Pacifico Energy , and Michael Bjerrum – CCO & Co-Founder, Shoreline, moderated by Samuel Griffiths – Country Manage, ERSG

Skowronnek & Bechnak Japan Co. Ltd. are proud to be also the Associate Sponsor of JWE 2022.

Skowronnek & Bechnak Japan 株式会社 3rd Anniversary

Fri, 16 Sep 2022 06:57:37 GMT

Skowronnek & Bechnak Japan 株式会社 3rd Anniversary

Skowronnek & Bechnak Japan Co. Ltd. are proud to celebrate the 3rd Anniversary. We sincerely thank our Clients and Business Partners for your continuous trust and support.

Skowronnek & Bechnak Japan 株式会社は2022年9月をもちまして創立3周年を迎えましたこのたび創立3周年を迎えることができましたのは、多くのお客様に支えられ、皆様のご指導とお力添えのおかげと深く感謝しております今後とも、何卒一層のご愛顧、ご支援を賜りますようお願い申し上げます。

Advisor to TS-FLOW© JIP

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 11:09:21 GMT

TS-FLOW© offshore storage JIP early address of risk and insurability

A new industry partnership will support the UK´s floating wind industry by identifying offshore storage areas for wind turbines awaiting installation in the Celtic Sea. TS-Flow© will keep supply chain moving by freeing up space on quaysides and inner-harbours for assembling turbines.

The initiative is led by Offshore Solutions Group and delivered in partnership with HR Wallingford.

Partners include:

Falck Renewables SpA

Falmouth Harbour, Associated British Ports

Gwynt Glass Offshore Wind (EDF Renewables UK & Ireland & DP Energy Group)

Ocean Power Technology

RWE

Skowronnek & Bechnak

Sulmara

https://lnkd.in/e9y-uSBu/

2nd Japan Wind Expo 2022 GOI Stand E12-19

Wed, 31 Aug 2022 11:01:20 GMT

2nd Japan Wind Expo 2022 GOI Stand E12-19

Skowronnek & Bechnak are proud to be part of the German Offshore Wind Initiative イツ洋上風力イニチアチブ at the 2nd Japan Wind Expo 2022.

Please visit the GOI Stand E12-19 to receive more information.

Panelist on WFO Moorings webinar

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 06:23:40 GMT

WFO webinar – White Paper Highlights: Mooring Systems for Floating Offshore Wind

Following upon the publication of the White Paper on Mooring Systems and the great feedback received, the World Forum Offshore Wind organize a webinar during which a panel of excellent offshore wind experts discusses the Mooring Systems for Floating Offshore Wind from the point of view of technology, safety, certification and insurability.

Speaker:
David J Timmington from Griffin-Woodhouse Limited

Panelists:
Alistair Lee from Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult
Ralf Skowronnek from Skowronnek & Bechnak
Jon Gumley from AMOG Consulting
Aseem Dhingra from DNV
Moderator:
Ilya Karnaukhov from World Forum Offshore Wind (WFO)

You are welcome to click on the below link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AunnMi4Wp4Y

GOI webinar speaker

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 05:55:54 GMT

GOI webinar – Japan Offshore Wind: Risk mitigation as a condition to insurability

German Offshore Wind Initiative webinar, 1 June 2022.

Together with Germanischer Lloyd (DNV), Skowronnek & Bechnak address the present situation in Offshore Wind insurance markets and how risk mitigation can enable projects to qualify for insurance coverage otherwise unavailable due to high number of losses, such as e.g. cable and cable protection losses in the past few years.

Join us during the webinar: “Project Risk Mitigation” from 9:00 to 10:40 CET / from 16:00 to 17:40 JST on 1 June and engage in a discussion with Ralf & Barbora on the topic of risk mitigation as a tool to achieving insurability for equipment and components affected by frequent losses.

GOI German Offshore Wind Insights Series 2022 Event no.2_01June2022 with speakers info (PDF)

FOWT 2022 Selected speaker

Thu, 05 May 2022 08:40:24 GMT

Floating Offshore Wind Insurability and Insurance Relevant Parameters Qualifying FOW for Project Finance

Floating Offshore Wind Turbines 2022, 15-18 May in Montpellier, France.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6922158163509039104/

My aim is to address the present situation in insurance markets and recent FOW placements, including the lacking standards, and present the key parameters which are decisive for the technology being able to qualify for insurability at the level necessary to meet the Project Finance expectations.

Join us during the Panel: “Floating wind as seen by lenders and insurers?” from 11:10 to 12:20 CET on 17 May and engage in discussion with Barbora Bechnak on the topic of FOW insurability relevant parameters and formulation of insurance industry standards.

Erneuerbare Energien Hamburg Offshore Japan

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 07:59:59 GMT

Erneuerbare Energien Hamburg Offshore Japan

Ralf Skowronnek, Member of EEHH Board, is presenting on EEHH forum on risk and insurance aspects of Offshore Wind in Japan and additional risks to be considered for a successful bid and sustainable Offshore Wind energy production.

Key topics and recommended solutions addressed:

•    Earthquake, Tsunami and Typhoon risks represent the highest exposure
•    Lightning strikes are more easily controllable
•    Sufficient design margins are necessary
•    Risk Transfer of non-insurable risk – governmental pooling

https://www.erneuerbare-energien-hamburg.de/de/events/details/moderne-regelungskonzepte-für-speicherbasierte-wärmeversorgungsanlagen-kopie.html

Please address us in case you are interested to learn more on risk mitigation solutions.

Japan Wind Expo 2022 GOI

Tue, 22 Feb 2022 10:53:34 GMT

Skowronnek & Bechnak are proud to be part of the German Offshore Wind Initiative at the Japan Wind Expo 2022.

Please visit the GOI Stand E28-15 to receive more information.

You are also welcome to click on the below link:
https://www.fcexpo.jp/ja-jp/search/2022-tokyo/directory/exhibitor-details.org-40dd7b96-8327-40ec-b44a-a5602a5c3e3b.html

Scope of services for Japan:

Skowronnek & Bechnak_Japan_Scope of services

Happy New Lunar Year 2022

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 10:35:47 GMT

Happy New Lunar Year 2022

EIC Global Offshore Wind Report

Mon, 03 Jan 2022 12:54:59 GMT

Ralf Skowronnek on “Addressing Insurability in Floating Offshore Wind Early on Can Help Speed up Commercial Deployment”

Addressing Insurability in Floating Offshore Wind Early on Can Speed Up Commercial Deployment.

At the anticipated scale of growth, it is imperative that FOW technologies achieve commercial scale readiness and become bankable. However, bankability is only achievable once sufficient insurability of the technology is demonstrated.

As such, making sure that projects can obtain sufficient coverage by insurers should be a priority. Indeed, to achieve insurability means for FOW projects to have understood the uncertainties surrounding the technology, lowered the risk exposure, and lowered the probability of failure/damage. Reaching sufficient insurability will decrease the total cost of risk and levelized cost of energy, and finally secure the commercial growth of the technology for the long-term.

To read further, please see the below article ( Final-FOW-article.pdf ) or visit the EIC website for full Report.

Happy New Year 2022

Sat, 01 Jan 2022 10:27:27 GMT

Happy New Year 2022

Merry Christmas 2021

Fri, 24 Dec 2021 12:32:24 GMT

Merry Christmas 2021

Art & Offshore Wind

Wed, 24 Nov 2021 13:25:59 GMT

Welcome to our first Art & Offshore Wind Virtual Exhibition

Skowronnek & Bechnak welcome you to Art & Offshore Wind – 2021 Virtual Exhibition

www.artoffshorewind.org

Welcome to our virtual exhibition „Art & Offshore Wind 2021” by which we pay tribute to all of you who with your daily work contribute to the development of Offshore Wind:

https://youtu.be/jQVB7-N8qrM

Skowronnek & Bechnak invite you to visit our virtual gallery presenting Offshore Wind from an Artist´s perspective:
https://youtu.be/gWjvDGJyrcg

WFO Insurance White Paper

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 12:15:16 GMT

Subcommittee Insurance issued the 1st White Paper on Insurability of Floating Offshore Wind Farms

WORLD FORUM OFFSHORE WIND (WFO) Subcommittee Insurance, chaired by Ralf Skowronnek, published its first White Paper Insurability of Floating Offshore Wind

Press release: https://wfo-global.org/press-releases/

Insurability of Floating Offshore Wind White Paper: https://w2m8n2q3.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/WFO_Insurance-WhitePaper-October2021-FINAL.pdf

For the acceleration of the new technology deployment, investment is a prerequisite. It is therefore necessary to gain trust of investors and financiers to enable the projects to move from a demonstrator to a commercial scale. Insurance is the security on which both Investors and Lenders rely when making their investment decision and which makes investments possible.

Ralf Skowronnek, Chairman Insurance Subcommittee, Skowronnek & Bechnak International Risk and Insurance Advisors:

“This Whiter Paper is the result of numerous fruitful in-depth discussions between leading experts from the floating offshore wind and insurance industry who come together during monthly Insurance Subcommittee meetings of WFO’s Floating Offshore Wind Committee.”

FOWT 2021 Selected speaker

Wed, 18 Aug 2021 08:44:48 GMT

Commercial Scale Floating Offshore Wind from the Perspective of a Lenders´ Insurance Advisor

Floating Offshore Wind Turbines 2021, 15-18 November in Saint-Malo, France.
https://live.eventtia.com/en/fowt2021event/PROGRAM/

My aim is to provide the general audience with an overview of what parameters a commercial scale FOW project has to address to qualify for non-recourse project finance. In particular, I would like to describe the importance of a coordinated process of the “four pillars” of an FOW project during the Pre-Financial Close phase, i.e. Lenders´ Technical, Legal, Financial and Insurance Advisors and provide solutions on how a commercial scale FOW project could achieve the level of insurance coverage corresponding to Lenders´ expectations, which are generally based on the bottom-fixed insurance coverage requirements, by technical (floater, moorings, anchors), contractual (liability framework), and financial (account reserve) mitigation.

Join us during the Panel: “Higher Risks, Higher Returns?” from 9:30 to 10:45 CET on 17 November and engage in discussion with Barbora Bechnak on the topic of non-recourse financed FOW commercial scale projects from a LIA perspective.

JWE 2021 Brand Sponsor

Sat, 31 Jul 2021 08:30:25 GMT

Skowronnek & Bechnak Japan JWE 2021 Brand Sponsor and speaker

Japan Wind Energy 2021, 12-13 October in Yokohama.
Skowronnek & Bechnak Japan 株式会社 is a Brand Sponsor and a speaker at the JWE 2021.
Ralf Skowronnek will provide insight into the risks related with Offshore Wind facilities deployment in new territories such as Japan, and the additional and increased risks that we are facing. In particular Ralf will address Japan specific aspects of the Offshore Wind risks, how their impact can be mitigated based on the experience gained previously in Europe and Asia and how to optimize Offshore Wind projects parameters to qualify for sustainable insurability at commercially reasonable terms.
Join us during the Panel: “Undertake the Massive Risks of Offshore Wind Farms” from 15:30 to 16:20 JST on 13 October and engage in discussion with Ralf Skowronnek on the topic of Japan Offshore Wind risk allocation and sustainable insurability.

WFO webinar on lightning strikes

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 06:12:04 GMT

Skowronnek & Bechnak seeks solutions for sustainable insurability of lightning strike risks
Lightning strikes can cause high financial losses to offshore wind farms which in some regions are difficult to insure. Our webinar introduces the latest stage of their detection and insurability. To register, please follow the below link:

https://mailchi.mp/01be55c0bc03/may_20

Our Japanese company in EEHH

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 13:39:34 GMT

Skowronnek & Bechnak Japan Co. Ltd. in EEHH newsletter
To read the original article in German, please click on the following link:
https://www.erneuerbare-energien-hamburg.de/de/news/uebersicht/details/skowronnek-bechnak-gruenden-japanische-unternehmensgesellschaft-um-den-offshore-windmarkt-in-japan-besser-bedienen-zu-koennen.html

Following upon the opening of our Tokyo office in September 2019 and the trustful relationships we have been able to establish with the Japanese Offshore Wind Stakeholders, we have decided to open a Japanese company to be closer to our Japanese Clients and Lenders. The advantage for our Clients is now being able to work with us in a context that complies with the laws of Japan and the Japanese jurisdiction.

But why we did we choose Japan in the first place? To be exact, because of Shinkansen, the Rainbow Bridge and Skytree. Because they represent for us the technological progress and human creativity. And that is how we perceive Japan: as a minimalistic design, precision and reliability.

Following upon Japan´s decision to develop Offshore Wind, our decision to accompany the country by its endeavors was inevitable. Our new company Skowronnek & Bechnak Japan 株式会社 specializes in risk and insurance advisory and provides, in cooperation with Clients, new solutions for Japanese Offshore Wind risks insurability, including the risk of typhoon, tsunami, earthquake and lightning strike. In particular we raise our Clients´ awareness of losses which are not insurable or only difficult and costly to insure, such as e.g. the risk of soil liquefaction after an earthquake or the risk of lightning strike damage which is particularly prominent in Japan.

The company establishment process last year was very challenging, due also to the prohibition of entry into Japan. The entire process was performed electronically, including submission of notarized signatures and documents. We have, however, succeeded, thanks to our Japanese partners who were always ready to assist and who made use of all possible options granted by the Japanese laws and administration to enable the completion of the process even without our personal presence.

And this is also part of modern Japan: in harmony with traditions, the country strives for flexibility and modernity and enables foreign companies which could make an additional positive contribution to the Japanese economy, the necessary access.

Our new Japanese company

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 08:09:24 GMT

We are proudly announcing the establishment of the Japanese company – Skowronnek & Bechnak Japan Co. Ltd. (株式会社) on 21 December 2020.

Following upon the opening of the Tokyo office in September 2019 and the trustful relationships with Japanese Offshore Wind stakeholders we have successfully established, we have decided to open a Japanese company to be closer to our Japanese Clients and Lenders.

The principle advantage for Japanese partners is the possibility to work and receive risk and insurance advisory services within a fully Japanese context provided under the laws of Japan and being subjected to Japanese jurisdiction.

As part of our risk and insurance advisory services, we specialize in Japanese Insurance Act and its application and interpretation in the context of Offshore Wind insurance policies and claims management process. In this respect we continuously update our knowledge with Japanese counterparts and follow closely the Japanese Offshore Wind legislative framework development. Our risk and insurance advisory services are complementary to those provided traditionally by insurance brokers.

We also strive to provide new solutions for insurability of Japan specific Offshore Wind risks, including the risks of typhoon, tsunami, earthquake and lightning strike and monitor the development of governmental regulations imposed upon wind farms affected by these events. In particular, we raise the Clients´ awareness of losses which are not insurable or difficult and costly to insure, such as e.g. the risk of soil liquefaction or provide alternative solutions against losses which are insurable but generally subject to a longer waiting period during which Clients do not receive indemnification. These include e.g. the requirement of shutting down the wind turbine hit by a lightning strike which consequently cannot generate electricity, and where indemnification is subject to a deductible of generally not less than 2 months and which is eventually not indemnified by insurance in the absence of a physical loss affecting the turbine.

Being fully immersed in the Japanese Offshore Wind legislative framework enables us to provide Clients with Japan compliant and yet innovative risk prevention, minimization and insurance concept proposals.

Our entire Japanese specific Offshore Wind knowledge is equally provided for the benefit of Lenders when we act as Lenders Insurance Advisors for Japanese offshore wind farms under development or during re-financing process. Our country and geographical region specific knowledge secures the interest of Japanese Lenders and Investors by our insurance and insurability focused scrutiny of Japan specific (additional) risk, technical, environmental and contractual exposure and its control and minimization by insurance coverage underwritten on an adequate Japan specific insurance policy wording and additional necessary safeguarding mechanisms.

We sincerely thank you for the trust given us and wish that the establishment of the Japanese Co. Ltd. company confirms our long-term commitment to Japanese partners in Offshore Wind projects.

Exclusive Cooperation for France

Fri, 11 Dec 2020 13:53:57 GMT

One of the leading insurance brokers in France, Bessé and their Marine Renewable Energy experts, have signed an exclusive cooperation agreement with Skowronnek & Bechnak.This partnership aims to create a multi-disciplinary team, unique in France, able to assist with all the "insurance” issues of its customers, with respect to both insurance markets and all the industry’s other stakeholders (operators, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, etc.), as well as the financial parties, which continue to hold the keys to the development of the industrialization phase of renewable marine energy. The first projects for the cooperation will be the next Floating Offshore Wind Farms in France.

Lightning strike risk for offshore wind farms

Thu, 29 Oct 2020 08:10:44 GMT

Skowronnek & Bechnak are engaged in seeking combined technical and insurance solutions against the risk of a lightning strike and the resulting loss or damage, including financial impact on the offshore wind farms due to loss of production during the turbines downtime. The impact on the offshore wind farms can be very significant in particular in territories where lightning strikes are frequent, such as e.g. norther parts of Japan where the probability of a lightning strike is 300 times higher than in the European North Sea. Further queries can be addressed at info@sbadvisors.de .

Ralf Skowronnek appointed Chairman of Insurance Sub-Committee of Floating Offshore Wind – World Forum Offshore Wind (WFO)

Mon, 19 Oct 2020 12:26:03 GMT

Ralf Skowronnek has been appointed the Chairman of the Insurance Sub-Committee of the Floating Offshore Wind Committee, World Forum Offshore Wind, leading the initiative of international experts focusing on addressing the floating system parameters and formulating the industry standards conforming to insurers´ requirements in order to secure future insurability of the floating technology, in particular when it comes to large scale projects and their bankability.

Japan Energy 2020 – “How to increase insurability of large scale floating projects and decrease the LCoE”

Mon, 19 Oct 2020 11:43:32 GMT

Skowronnek & Bechnak are a sponsor and panelist at the Japan Energy 2020 engaged in the panel discussion on “How to Optimize Performance Versus Reliability to Encourage the Deployment of Floating Wind” and presenting their own arguments on “How to increase insurability of large scale floating projects and decrease the LCoE”.

MoU with MST Risk Consulting

Mon, 19 Oct 2020 11:43:32 GMT

Skowronnek & Bechnak are very proud to have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with MST Risk Consulting, a major Japanese insurance broker and risk consultant with significant experience with Renewable Energy and Infrastructure projects.