Business Network for Offshore Wind

BOEM issues new timeline for offshore wind review

Wind energy developers propose a uniform system of arranging wind turbines off southern New England at 1-nautical-mile distances aligned on cardinal north-south and east-west grids. J.W. Baird Associates image.

The federal Bureau of Oceana Energy Management has pushed back to December 2020 a final environmental impact statement on the Vineyard Wind offshore wind energy project, meaning backers of the 800-megawatt development off southern New England will miss their 2022 target to start making electricity.

Preliminary findings from that study – examining the potential cumulative effects of Vineyard Wind and more than a dozen other utility-scale projects planned off the East Coast – were originally...

https://www.workboat.com/news/offshore/boem-issues-new-timeline-for-offshore-wind-review/

For offshore wind, collaboration is key

On Friday, DNV GL held the fourth U.S. Offshore Wind Roundtable Discussion at the company’s Houston headquarters. DNV GL, the Business Network for Offshore Wind (BNOW), Boskalis Offshore Energy and Huisman-US hosted more than 100 maritime industry stakeholders for a discussion on the supply chain capabilities and the present state of the U.S. East Coast offshore wind market.

Attendees heard about the growing opportunities in the market and reducing risks for investments in vessels and ports...

https://www.workboat.com/news/offshore/for-offshore-wind-collaboration-is-key/

Offshore wind energy looms large

The liftboat Brave Tern and crewboat Atlantic Pioneer during construction of the Block Island Wind Farm in August 2016. Deepwater Wind photo.

The future of offshore wind energy was a major presence at the 40th annual International WorkBoat Show, a sign of accelerating interest in ocean power from coastal states and the opportunity it could bring to the U.S. maritime sector.

More than a dozen featured expert speakers on offshore wind attracted audiences, including representatives of companies with deep offshore experience in the U.S. oil and gas industry.

A breakfast meeting updating the offshore wind energy industry attracted 225. Doug...

https://www.workboat.com/news/workboat-show-news/offshore-wind-energy-looms-large/

BOEM offshore wind review may go to late 2020; developers undeterred

urbines at the Deepwater Wind array off Block Island, R.I. Department of Energy photo.

The Department of Interior’s review of potential cumulative impact of East Coast offshore wind energy development may continue into late 2020.

But industry advocates say the nascent U.S. industry’s momentum is continuing, with new contracts and commitments, and expectations of new Bureau of Offshore Energy Management offshore lease sales in New York Bight and California waters.

“In 2020 we’ll have additional leases coming on line in New York and California. This will become a bicoastal industry,”...

https://www.workboat.com/news/offshore/boem-offshore-wind-review-may-go-to-late-2020-developers-undeterred/

New York signs biggest deal yet for offshore wind energy

New York state entered power agreements with offshore wind developers Equinor and Ørsted for a combined 1.7 gigawatts of power by 2024. NYSERDA image

New York state officials struck deals with two offshore wind energy developers to build 1,700 megawatts of capacity off Long Island, aiming to have turbines in operation by 2024 that could potentially power more than 1 million homes.

The projects would also bring 1,600 jobs and $3.2 billion in economic activity, according to state energy planners. Ørsted, one of the winners in the New York power agreement bidding, says its investments in the state will include training programs for new workers –...

https://www.workboat.com/news/offshore/new-york-signs-biggest-deal-yet-for-offshore-wind-energy/

U.S. offshore wind industry will need networked ports

The New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal was designed to support wind energy development off Massachusetts, but at 21 acres may not be big enough alone for the projects that could be coming in the 2020s. Massachusetts Clean Energy Center photo

The U.S. East Coast is the world’s most promising market for offshore wind energy, but its ports all have limitations and will need to be used together by the new industry.

That was the assessment of experts at the International Partnering Forum 2019, a major wind energy conference hosted by the Business Network for Offshore Wind that attracted 1,400 people from offshore wind developers and associated industries to New York City last week.

“There’s not a Bremenhaven in the U.S.,” said Jay A....

https://www.workboat.com/news/offshore/u-s-offshore-wind-industry-will-need-networked-ports/

Fishermen seek voice in offshore wind power planning

The Rhode Island-based fishing vessel Virginia Marise near the Block Island Wind Farm. Deepwater Wind photo.

Finally achieving some traction with federal regulators, the commercial fishing industry is working to solidify its place at the table with the U.S. offshore wind energy industry.

But big obstacles remain. One is fishermen’s continuing distrust of their soon-to-be-new neighbors on the outer continental shelf.

“All of the developers have approached us…and we’re having a hard time finding people who are willing to be FLOs (fisheries liaison officers),” said Annie Hawkins, executive director of the...

https://www.workboat.com/news/offshore/fishermen-seek-voice-in-offshore-wind-power-planning/

Next-gen offshore wind vessels: More speed, size, comfort

The next generation of crew transfer vessels (CTVs) for the budding U.S. offshore wind industry could draw on European trends toward more speed, air cushioned hulls and even hybrid power.

But with groundbreaking possible on the first major U.S. project by year’s end, wind companies should already be looking toward those designs, builders said Wednesday at the IPF19 wind conference in New York.

“The big demand for CTVs is during construction, and you will need them long before you think you will”...

https://www.workboat.com/news/offshore/next-gen-offshore-wind-vessels-more-speed-size-comfort/

Gathering momentum, offshore wind industry meets in New York

urbines at the Deepwater Wind array off Block Island, R.I. Department of Energy photo.

The U.S. offshore wind industry is on the verge of starting its first major projects, but needs more coordination among East Coast states and predictability in federal leasing and permitting, advocates stressed Tuesday at the opening of the International Partnering Forum 2019 in New York City.

New York State’s goal of generating 9 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2030 “has really helped push the U.S. industry to the tipping point,” said Liz Burdock, president and CEO of the Business Network...

https://www.workboat.com/news/offshore/gathering-momentum-offshore-wind-industry-meets-in-new-york/

New England offshore wind energy lease auction fetches $405 million

Offshore wind companies paid $405 million for leases (shown in orange) adjoining existing wind energy leases off New England. Image courtesy Business Network for Offshore Wind.

The biggest offshore wind energy lease auction to date brought in $405 million for three tracts off New England, in what federal officials call a signal of momentum for the budding U.S. industry.

“Wow. It’s the highest-grossing (wind power)  lease ever. We are truly blown away by this result,” said Walter Cruickshank, acting director of the federal Bureau of Offshore Energy, in a telephone press conference shortly after 32 rounds of bidding closed around 11:20 a.m. Friday.

Starting at 9 a.m. on...

https://www.workboat.com/news/offshore/new-england-offshore-wind-energy-lease-auction-fetches-405-million/

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