Interview with Laurenz Kamps, Offshore Wind Engineering at Iberdrola Deutschland

A passion for learning and optimism as the lens through which you view a professional challenge are essential when facing tasks such as coordinating the legal and environmental aspects of major wind projects. Laurenz Kamps, Permitting and Engineering Manager at Iberdrola Deutschland, explains what his work involves and how he manages to adapt in such a dynamic and complex environment.

What does a Permitting & Engineering Manager do?

I work in the consenting development team, mainly coordinating with German authorities. My job is to make sure our offshore wind projects meet all the legal and environmental requirements. That means collecting documents, chasing deadlines, and making sure internal teams and contractors know what they need to deliver. It is a lot of back and forth, especially when there are changes to make.

How long have you been working at Iberdrola?

I’ve been with Iberdrola for almost two years now, having joined on December 1st, 2023.

What appealed to you about Iberdrola and what would you like most about the company?

What initially appealed to me about Iberdrola is that it is one of the largest players worldwide in renewable energy. The company invests across a wide range of sectors including onshore and offshore wind, solar, hydropower, grids, and battery storage. What I appreciate most, especially in my role, is the opportunity to travel occasionally and contribute to impressive mega-projects like the Baltic Eagle or Windankerwind farms in the German Baltic Sea.

What brought you to offshore wind?

I studied electrical engineering and worked in hardware development: circuit boards, programming, the whole thing. Offshore was new to me, but I was eager to learn. I love understanding how things work, and this role gives me a broad view of the entire industry, from legal and technical aspects to environmental and health & safety considerations. It is a steep learning curve, but that’s what makes it exciting.

What advice would you give to someone new to the offshore wind sector?

Stay curious and don’t hesitate to ask your colleagues lots of questions. Offshore wind is a complex field involving specialized vessels, challenging logistics, and astonishing figures like the sheer weight of components. When a project transitions into the operations and maintenance phase, you will feel proud to have contributed to a mega-project that plays a vital role in the global energy transition.

Is there a milestone you are proud of?

Leading the tender for the marking implementation plan at our offshore wind farm was a big one. The result was a 100+ page document detailing how the wind farm is marked -both visually and electronically- so vessels and aircraft can navigate safely. It involved coordination with many stakeholders and third-party certification. Without the K-P-U certificate, we could not have started the construction.

How do you manage all the complexity?

I built an Excel tracker with nearly 300 rows, listing every permit condition across ten chapters. I also block focus time in my calendar, flag emails, and sometimes just pick up the phone to sort things out quickly. I’ve experimented with other tools, but this setup works best for me.

How important is the Iberdrola team in your day-to-day work?

Team alignment is at the heart of my daily work. I regularly coordinate between German authorities and various departments within our offshore project teams, such as e.g. the turbine, foundation, or inter-array cable packages - to ensure smooth communication and progress. Teamwork is crucial to successfully delivering such a complex project. The team at Iberdrola is very diverse, highly skilled, and open-minded, which creates a collaborative and inspiring environment to work in.

How has Iberdrola helped you in your professional development?

Iberdrola has given me valuable insights into Germany’s offshore wind industry. It’s an ongoing learning journey, especially as the market continues to evolve. Working on complex projects like Baltic Eagle and Windanker has taught me how to navigate coordination with authorities and balance communication between various stakeholders. I’ve learned to manage deadlines effectively and maintain a clear overview of the entire project scope. One aspect I particularly appreciate is that English is the project language, which allows me to continuously improve my language skills while working.

Do you have a life philosophy?

I try to enjoy the little things. If it rains at a festival, you can either sit in your tent and complain or go dance in the mud. I take the same approach in my professional life: when things go wrong, I stay calm and look for the opportunity in the situation. That mindset helps me stay grounded, even when deadlines are tight.