Mads Nipper, der CEO von Ørsted, warnte davor, dass hohe Zinssätze die Kosten für erneuerbare Energien weiterhin in die Höhe treiben werden. Trotz der “positiven Schritte” des Windenergieentwicklers im Jahr 2023 warnte Nipper vor anhaltend hohen Preisen für erneuerbare Energien aufgrund des bestehenden Zinsumfelds. Er betonte, dass die Preise bei Auktionen hoch bleiben würden, solange die Zinssätze nicht zurückgehen.
Renewable energy projects are particularly sensitive to rising interest rates since developers need to raise funds to cover high upfront costs, especially in the wind sector. Wood Mackenzie, an energy consultancy firm, highlighted in a recent report that a two percent increase in US interest rates could escalate the overall costs of renewable energy projects by 20 percent.
To counter these challenges, Ørsted has been working to restore its position after facing difficulties in the past year due to escalating costs and other issues. The company had to withdraw from two major US projects, resulting in billions of dollars in impairments. This led to the suspension of dividends, reduction in renewable energy development targets, and a significant workforce reduction.
Despite these setbacks, Ørsted’s shares rose by over 3% as the company reported increased revenues from offshore wind farms. Additionally, the decision to proceed with the 924-megawatt Sunrise Wind project in New York reversed an impairment of 800 million DKr (115 million US dollars) from the previous year. These developments, along with the progress in the Changhua offshore wind farms in Taiwan, are crucial milestones in rebuilding investor confidence.
Furthermore, Ørsted faces challenges in its supply chains but is actively working to overcome them, including securing long-term agreements for access to installation vessels. Currently, the company has 7.6 GW of offshore wind energy under construction, marking a record high. The overall quarterly revenue for Ørsted reached 19.2 billion DKr, with a pre-tax profit of 4.4 billion DKr, showcasing the company’s continued commitment to renewable energy despite existing obstacles.
