As the offshore wind industry continues to evolve, the need for innovative, integrated strategies has never been greater. At Wood Thilsted, we’re proud to introduce Christian Sonnemann, our new Chief Consultant within the Advisory business unit.
With extensive experience connecting insights across technical design, supply chain, strategic planning and commercial realities, Christian brings a holistic, forward-looking approach to help clients make informed decisions that support long-term success.
In this exclusive Q&A, Christian shares his vision for the Advisory team, the challenges facing the industry, and how Wood Thilsted is uniquely positioned to empower clients with tailored, progressive solutions.
Read on to learn more about Christian’s approach to creating value and driving success in offshore wind.
Q: What excites you most about joining Wood Thilsted’s Advisory business unit?
A: I’m excited to join a team that truly partners with clients to address the complexities of offshore wind while driving meaningful progress. The Advisory team’s focus on integrating technical, strategic and commercial expertise aligns with my passion for creating long-term value. This role goes beyond offering advice – it’s about building trust, proactively managing risks and navigating uncertainties with clients to deliver value for all stakeholders.
Q: How do you see your role benefitting clients?
A: My role is to connect insights across technical design, supply chain, strategic planning, and commercial realities to drive better outcomes for our clients.
By providing holistic, forward-looking strategies that optimise value, we help our clients make informed decisions that support long-term success.
Q: What challenges do you see the offshore wind sector facing, and how can Advisory help address them?
A: The offshore wind sector is facing significant headwinds in maintaining profitability. Macroeconomic factors like inflation and interest rate increases, combined with rising material costs and supply chain bottlenecks, are putting pressure on business cases.
In parallel, technological advancements such as larger turbines offer opportunities to improve project economics. However, this can also introduce new uncertainties and risks, such as supply chain constraints. Additionally, unpredictable auction outcomes and pipeline uncertainties add to the complexity of planning and delivering projects.
Advisory helps clients navigate these evolving dynamics by providing integrated strategies that align technical, commercial and supply chain considerations. We focus on scenario building, proactive risk mitigation and informed decision-making, ensuring that each project remains robust and value-driven, even in uncertain conditions.
Q: How does Wood Thilsted Advisory create value across a project lifecycle?
A: Value creation starts in the earliest stages, where decisions have the greatest impact. We build scenarios, align technical and commercial choices, and provide transparency on conditions that need to be met at key milestones. During execution, we refine and optimise these strategies, combining risk assessments and actionable roadmaps to deliver measurable success. It’s about turning opportunities into clear, sustainable outcomes.
Q: How do you see the role of partnerships evolving in the offshore wind industry?
A: As projects grow in complexity and become more geographically diverse, partnerships will play a critical role. At Wood Thilsted, we strive to go beyond being advisers – we become true partners. Our success is directly tied to that of our clients. By building meaningful relationships, aligning with client goals and designing tailored solutions, we aim to deliver real, long-term value through every collaboration.
Q: What is unique about Advisory’s approach to offshore wind?
A: Advisory bridges technical, commercial and strategic expertise to deliver tailored solutions that create lasting value. We don’t just address immediate project needs; we take a lifecycle view, helping clients achieve the best outcomes across all project phases.
Q: What’s your vision for the future of Advisory at Wood Thilsted?
A: My vision is to position Wood Thilsted as the partner of choice for offshore wind developers seeking a dedicated collaborator committed to their success. We aim to set a new standard for how offshore wind projects are supported, from early ideation and development to seamless execution. Our focus is on empowering clients to navigate complexities and maximise opportunities, while delivering sustainable and impactful results.
About Christian Sonnemann
Christian Sonnemann is Chief Consultant in Wood Thilsted’s Advisory unit, specialising in harmonising technical, strategic and commercial insights to optimise value for offshore wind clients. With extensive experience in project development, bid preparation, cost optimisation and scenario building, he empowers clients to make informed decisions, driving innovation and long-term success in the offshore wind sector.
About Wood Thilsted
Wood Thilsted is a specialised offshore wind engineering consultancy at the forefront of designing the global energy transition.
Driven by a shared purpose to accelerate the green energy transition, its team of world-class engineers delivers innovative, sustainable and optimised solutions that empower clients to achieve their renewable energy goals with greater speed and efficiency.
As a Certified B Corp, the company continues to push the boundaries of what it means to be a responsible business in the renewable energy industry.
For more information, visit www.woodthilsted.com/advisory