The second Offshore Connect conference will take place on 17 October in Rostock-Warnemünde, bringing together representatives from politics, industry and research to discuss the expansion of offshore wind energy in the Baltic Sea. Hosted at the Hotel Neptun, the conference aims to strengthen cooperation across the offshore wind and maritime sectors and to identify ways to accelerate renewable energy development in the region.
The event will be opened by Dr Wolfgang Blank, Minister for Economic Affairs, Infrastructure and Tourism of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. This year’s conference partner, the Offshore Wind Energy Foundation (Stiftung Offshore Windenergie), represented by managing director Karina Würtz, will present the state’s Maritime Future Concept for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency, transmission system operator 50Hertz, offshore wind developers, and other experts will address current topics related to Baltic Sea wind development.
The event begins with the Offshore Connect Recruiting Day, which focuses on addressing the skills shortage in the maritime and offshore wind sectors, and will be followed in the evening by an offshore wind dinner during a Baltic Sea boat trip.
On the same day, Neptun Werft will open its premises to job seekers from 10:00 to 18:00, offering company presentations and guided tours. Participating organisations include Neptun Werft, EEW Special Pipe Constructions, 50Hertz, Amprion, AFZ Training Centre Rostock, the University of Rostock, and other regional employers.
During the main conference, speakers will discuss regional value creation, the maritime industry, offshore wind turbine lifetime, and munitions clearance. Companies such as Iberdrola, EnBW, and TotalEnergies will provide updates on current Baltic Sea projects, including the construction of Iberdrola’s Windanker wind farm and EnBW’s operational experience in the region.
