Supporting the world’s biggest renewables projects

Worldwide energy consumption is increasing. It’s a trend that, as populations grow and industrialization spreads, is unlikely to reverse – and the same is true for the shift away from fossil fuels and toward renewable power.

Mega projects; major change

The International Energy Agency, for instance, reports that 28% of the energy generated worldwide in 2021 came from renewable sources (solar, wind, hydro, and others) and that renewables are expected to grow by 2,400 gigawatts between 2022 and 2027. That’s an 85% acceleration over the previous five-year period.

To achieve this exciting transition and meet the energy requirements of tomorrow, renewable energy mega-projects are underway around the world. Of course, they require enormous financial investment, and in many cases push the limits of existing material and engineering capabilities. Luckily, radical and cutting-edge solutions like Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber™, are on hand to ensure our vision of a future powered by renewable energy comes to life.

Dyneema®: Supporting some of the world’s biggest renewables projects

For more than 25 years, Dyneema® has provided lightweight solutions for the offshore and marine industries, thanks to its high-performance fiber grades like Dyneema® SK78 fiber and Dyneema® DM20 fiber. And today, these solutions are increasingly playing their part in some of the world’s most ambitious renewable energy projects.

This is particularly true for many of the huge windfarms being erected along coastlines around the world, where lifting and lashing solutions made with Dyneema® are enabling faster installation and reducing thechance of injuries to workers or damage to fragile and valuable loads, such as nacelles or wind turbine blades.

Synthetic lifting equipment made with Dyneema®, for example, is up to eight times lighter than steel of the same strength. The exceptional strength-to-weight ratio of Dyneema®-based solutions significantly reduces the weight and size of the equipment – and, therefore, makes it much easier, faster, and safer for crews to handle.

Enjoy greater cost control at less accessible sites

Today, windfarms are moving further away from shorelines and into deeper, less accessible waters. One such example is the Windfloat Atlantic (Portugal), a project that incorporated the largest and most powerful wind turbines ever installed onto a floating foundation at sea. Having started with a steel chain mooring system, the team soon encountered the limitations of steel wire ropes during installation and dismantling. The solution was a no-brainer: eventually, the project was successfully completed using much lighter mooring lines made with Dyneema® DM20 fiber.

It's the perfect example of how, for teams working in these tricky sites, the carefully engineered characteristics of Dyneema® fiber can make even more of a difference to both the operational efficiency and the economic viability of renewable energy mega-projects. After all, when it comes to the energy transition, every little bit helps!

Windfloat Atlantic, Portugal

Fulfilling our sustainability goals

Dyneema® is proud to play an important role in renewable energy generation. With renewable power sources like windfarms increasingly recognized as part of the answer to the world’s rising energy demands, ropes, slings, and synthetic chains made with Dyneema® are already helping to forge the links needed to make the renewable energy value chain a viable and affordable part of the global power landscape.

What’s more, as part of Avient, we’re committed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and we advocate for responsible action on climate change with our stakeholders, while increasing the use of renewables in our own energy mix to reduce our carbon footprint. In addition, 100% of Dyneema® fiber production is based on renewable electricity, saving CO₂ emissions equivalent to taking nearly 13,000 vehicles off the road for a whole year.