American Clean Power Association has announced a partnership with sustainable finance technology company Crux to make clean energy tax credit transfers more accessible to the clean energy industry. American Clean Power’s 800-plus member companies will be able to access discounted transaction fees on Crux’s platform.

“Our partnership with Crux will help catalyze accessible funding alternatives for clean energy,” said Jason Grumet, ACP CEO. “By simplifying the ability to monetize tax credits, the industry can invest more effectively and flexibly, bringing more projects, jobs, and investment to communities across the U.S. This collaboration underscores ACP’s commitment to leading innovative solutions that drive the industry forward.”

Crux is changing the way clean energy projects are financed in the United States, starting with transactions for the new transferable clean energy tax credits created by the Inflation Reduction Act. The new transferable tax equity market allows, for the first time, clean energy developers and manufacturers to sell their tax credits to third parties for cash, creating a market mechanism to expand access to capital for clean energy infrastructure, innovative technologies, and advanced manufacturing.

This partnership provides ACP members with discounts on transferable tax credits transaction fees as well as access to programming and insights developed by Crux—such as PowerCasts, white papers, reports, and more.

“Capitalizing on the tremendous growth opportunity for our clean energy sector and maximizing the tax incentives provided by the IRA requires expanding the tax equity investor base,” said Susan Nickey, ACP Board Chair and Chief Client Officer at HASI. “Partnering with Crux provides the industry with critical tools, data, and pricing transparency to build a robust and efficient market for tax credit transfer transactions. I am thrilled to see ACP members gain access to key resources to help accelerate the deployment of clean energy solutions.”

ACP launched the partnership in Minneapolis at CLEANPOWER 2024.

“Crux is thrilled to partner with the American Clean Power Association to offer its organization of the most prominent clean energy policy leaders, industry experts, and companies access to our powerful technology and large network of tax credit buyers,” said Johnson. “We’re looking forward to helping ACP members efficiently finance their clean energy projects in the future.”

Crux’s partnership with ACP aims to boost the emerging transferable tax equity market. To date, Crux has facilitated diverse technology transactions across solar, standalone storage, microgrids, bioenergy and renewable natural gas, and advanced manufacturing, and has more than $8 billion in credits available on its platform.

MORE INFO  www.cleanpower.org/crux

The U.S. offshore wind market transitioned from planning to commercialization in the first quarter of 2024. In total, the amount approved for construction in the U.S. surpassed 10 GW during the first quarter of 2024. These and other key industry findings are detailed in Oceantic Network’s U.S. Offshore Wind Quarterly Market Report, which highlights announced investments, advancements of the review process for several projects, and notable policy developments that drove the U.S. market forward between January and March of 2024.

Notable milestones include Ørsted and Eversource’s completion of the South Fork Wind project in March. Next up is Vineyard Wind, to be completed later this year, which also began delivering power to the grid. Meanwhile, two new projects, collectively triple the size of South Fork and Vineyard, were announced to begin installation this summer.

“In the first quarter, our industry moved from concept to reality with projects now delivering power to the grid,” said Sam Salustro, vice president of strategic communications at Oceantic Network. “No longer will the question be whether the U.S. builds offshore wind projects, but how many and how fast. This summer we’ll see the market move into a new region with the start of Dominion Energy’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind in the mid-Atlantic, and a third project in the Northeast with Revolution Wind.”

Further market strength was showcased in the first quarter with the ninth CTV launch, and fourth this year, for the U.S. market and a new $700 million investment in a steel tower facility. These announcements along with new tax guidance will enable the Inflation Reduction Act to benefit even more projects.

“We will continue to hit speed bumps, like New York’s announcement (recently) regarding recently awarded projects, but we are still seeing the market build momentum,” Salustro said. “The wind is at our backs; now we must continue our work to build a supply chain for offshore wind.”

The first quarter of 2024 signaled a new era for the industry with American homes being powered by offshore wind energy. The report identified several further advancements, including:

• The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) increased the total capacity approved for construction by more than 30 percent as the U.S. more than quintupled its installed offshore wind capacity — from 42 MW to 242 MW.
• S. Forged Rings announced a new $700 million tower and forge facility on the East Coast, an investment based purely on the strength of the U.S. market.
• Another 4,000 MW of projects are expected to begin installation activities this summer.
• New IRS tax guidance will drive down costs for a range of offshore wind activities across the East Coast.
• Four new crew transfer vessels, the workhorse of the offshore wind industry, have launched in just the past three months.
• New offtake awards contain provisions supporting supply chain investments throughout the East Coast.

MORE INFO  oceantic.org/us-offshore-wind-quarterly-market-report

The Timken Company, a leader in engineered bearings and industrial motion products, has expanded its offering of energy-efficient roller bearings to provide more sustainable solutions for a wider range of applications across industries. The offering includes tapered, spherical and mounted roller bearings commonly used in industrial applications, such as drives, pumps and compressors.

“We continuously collaborate with our customers to solve the world’s most challenging problems and applications, while innovating product and process technologies focused on changing market needs and emerging trends,” said Andreas Roellgen, executive vice president and president, Engineered Bearings. “Our expanded line of bearings is a direct result of our work with customers to further reduce friction, increase efficiency and drive greater sustainability in their products.”

Timken’s list of sustainable product attributes creates value over the life of its solutions, from design to recycling. The company designed its bearing line with enhanced geometries and finishes, which help reduce torque, improve mechanical efficiencies and consume less energy. These newest bearings add to the extensive catalog of sustainable and energy-efficient products Timken has developed with, and for, customers across a diverse mix of industrial markets.

MORE INFO  www.timken.com

Renewable Lubricants introduces biodegradable Bio-Fleet™ Hydraulic Fluids that perform like synthetics but are economical enough for frequent oil change environments due to contaminants. These patented formulations meet or exceed common performance protocols including Vickers M-2950-S, Vickers 1-286-5, U.S. Steel 126, and U.S. Steel 127.

Highly inhibited against moisture and rusting in both fresh and sea water, the fluids are ideal for hydraulic equipment operating outside where high moisture and dusty environments are prominent. Formulated to perform in hydraulic systems that require Anti-Wear (AW), anti-rust, anti-oxidation, anti-foam, and demulsibility properties.  These proven hydraulic fluids are available in ISO 22, ISO 32, ISO 46, and ISO 68 weights to suit fleet, marine, and industrial applications such as vane, piston, and gear pumps.

Bio-Fleet Hydraulic Fluids meet EPA 21013 Vessel General Permit guidelines for Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants and should be used in hydraulic systems where low toxicity, biodegradability, and non-bioaccumulation properties are required.

Anti-wear performance meets requirements for Vickers 35VQ-25 and V-104C (ASTM D-2882) vane pumps stand tests and exceeds DIN 51524 Part 2 and 3 (HLP/HVLP) load stage 10 that is recommended for vane, piston, and gear pumps.

With a higher viscosity index than synthetics (Energy Conserving Formulas), Bio-Fleet Hydraulic Fluids have improved thermal shear stability and increased load capacity.  Their extremely low volatility increases the flash and fire safety features, making them safer to use.  A direct replacement for mineral oil based hydraulic fluids, they are ideal for hydraulic systems where low toxicity, biodegradability, and non-bioaccumulation properties are required.

With oxidation performance comparable to full synthetics, Bio-Fleet fluids are among the safest hydraulic fluids for the environment.  Ideal for stationary or mobile environments, like balers, compactors, or collection vehicles, these high Viscosity Index (VI) fluids are proven in systems up to 10,000 psi and in systems with ultra-fine filtration.

In addition to enhancing performance, Renewable Lubricants (RL) helps companies achieve their sustainability goals.  They are ideal for use in all types of hydraulic systems including trash compactors, collection vehicles, balers, compactors, shredders, pumps, and other OEM equipment.

MORE INFO  www.renewablelube.com

In support of the Biden-Harris administration’s goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy capacity by 2030, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will initiate an environmental review of Vineyard Northeast’s proposed offshore wind energy project, located 29 miles offshore Nantucket, Massachusetts at its closest point.

BOEM estimates the proposed project would generate up to 2,600 megawatts (MW) of electricity, enough to power more than 900,000 homes with clean renewable energy.

BOEM published a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Construction and Operations Plan (COP) submitted by Vineyard Northeast, LLC. This is the 13th COP review initiated under the Biden-Harris administration.

“The Biden-Harris administration is steadfast in our dedication to collaborating with Tribal nations, government agencies, environmental groups, local communities, and ocean stakeholders,” said BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein. “Through collective effort, we can establish a robust, sustainable offshore wind sector that guarantees communities nationwide reap the rewards of domestically sourced clean, reliable renewable energy.”

The Lease Area, consisting of about 132,370 acres, is located some 29 miles from Nantucket and approximately 39 miles offshore Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.

Highlights from Vineyard Northeast’s proposal include the following:

• Installation of up to 160 wind turbine generators, up to 3 electrical service platforms (ESPs), and one booster station in an adjacent lease area.
• Two offshore export cable corridors, one to Connecticut and one to Massachusetts, and associated onshore transmission systems.

Since the start of the Biden-Harris administration, the Department of the Interior has approved the nation’s first six commercial scale offshore wind projects, held four offshore wind lease auctions – including a record-breaking sale offshore New York and the first-ever sale offshore the Pacific and Gulf Coasts, initiated environmental review of 13 offshore wind projects, and advanced the process to explore additional Wind Energy Areas in Oregon, Gulf of Maine and Central Atlantic. The Department has also taken steps to evolve its approach to offshore wind to drive towards union-built projects and a domestic based supply chain.

MORE INFO  www.boem.gov

A study by Eoltech, a leading wind and solar resource assessment consultancy, shows that worldwide wind production is very predictable.

The study was aimed at assessing the variations of the global wind resource over the last 15 years. The data show that worldwide wind power production’s annual variations remain within a ± 3% range. These results are based on irec index, the wind energy index covering 80% of the world’s onshore wind farms installed as of 2023.

The study combines the irec wind energy indexes that Eoltech releases each month for the 300 geographical areas worldwide with the highest number of farms. By aggregating and weighting this data, Eoltech was able to generate a “Global” as well as a “European” wind energy index and provide an overview of global wind resource trends over the past 15 years.

The Global Index covers geographical areas that host about 80% of the world’s operating onshore wind farms as of 2023, while the European Index covers 97% of the continent’s operating wind farms. The European Index shows that wind resource annual variations are within a ± 7% range in Europe, compared to ± 3% worldwide.

“Operating wind farms experience a large diversity of wind regimes, which cause on a local scale significant resource variability from one year to another. Locally, the production of a wind farm can differ significantly from one year to another, up to 25%, due to the variation of the wind resource. But on a larger scale (Europe, World), cumulated production is much more stable. It should also be noted that our analysis does not show any downward trend over the last 15 years in the global wind resource,” said Habib Leseney, Eoltech CEO.

“Yes, the wind does always blow somewhere on the planet, and it is good news for wind power going forward,” said Leseney.

Irec design includes ERA5 data, one of the latest climate reanalysis data sets produced by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). This indicator is mainly used by asset managers and wind farm owners to compare their production variation from one period to another. Such tools are crucial to assess the production capacity of their portfolio regardless of the wind speed variation level and enable to identify drift affecting the portfolio value over time.

MORE INFO  https://www.eoltech.fr/

Motus Technology has been awarded a contract by Seatrium Limited to deliver engineering, design, and construction of the platform main crane to Empire Wind 1 Offshore Substation.

The main platform crane from Motus will be delivered to Seatrium’s Singapore yard, before the offshore substation platform will be installed about 20 miles south of Long Island.

Motus Technology has delivered lifting and handling solutions for the offshore wind market with the state-of-the-art 3D motion compensated and solid technology for Commissioning Service Operational Vessels (CSOV).

“We take genuine pride in bringing the benefit of our technological expertise to the offshore wind sector and to be chosen by Seatrium Limited for the design and delivery of the main pedestal crane for installation on the Empire Wind Offshore Platform,” said Magnus Lerheim, sales manager at Motus Technology.

Following completion, the Empire Wind 1 OSS Platform will be operated by Equinor. The project, located about 15 to 30 miles from Long Island, will power several hundred thousand homes in New York and is expected to be a significant contributor in supporting the United States’ (U.S.) energy transition goals for a low-carbon future.

The delivery from Motus Technology consists of a self-contained electric-hydraulic offshore crane with a focus on safety, reliability, and quality. The crane is developed to lift five tons at 30 meters and is designed in accordance with the API 2C Eight Edition. It will comply with U.S. statutory laws and regulations for inspection, installation, and operation in offshore U.S. federal areas.

As the crane will be left unattended for long periods, special considerations are given to protect the crane components from the harsh offshore conditions and to reduce the required maintenance and start-up time for mobilizing and demobilizing on the platform.

“This contract award supports our strategy to increase our supply of high-end cranes to the renewable industry. Through its operations in the U.S., the Empire Wind platform will contribute to decarbonization offering non-fossil power from offshore wind. Empire Wind 1 is one of the most mature offshore wind projects on the east coast of the U.S., and we are excited to be part of this development,” said Kjell Hollen, CEO of Motus Technology.

MORE INFO  www.motustech.no

ONYX Insight, a leading independent predictive analytics solution provider, has delivered more than $340 million in savings to the wind industry through its fleetMONITOR condition monitoring software.

From its inception, the software was designed for owners of mixed assets, enabling centralized analysis of data from multiple CMS systems.

The hardware-agnostic software is built to work with any CMS system and is actively used across more than 20,000 turbines today, enabling rapid diagnostics of turbine reliability problems. Its fault database covers more than 30 turbine OEMs, allowing asset owners to anticipate major component failures 24 months in advance and use this information to extend assets’ useful life, optimize supply chain, and ultimately improve operational efficiency.

The technology has successfully collected more than 1 billion data measurements and abated more than 1 million metric tons of CO2 — the equivalent of taking 632,030 cars off the road — by avoiding the requirement for component replacements, de-risking catastrophic failures and reducing downtime.

Adopted by leading wind-energy asset owners, operators and OEMs including Pattern Energy, ERG, and bp — to name a few — fleetMONITOR is cloud-based for rapid deployment and can be seamlessly integrated to monitor data across different components and more than 15 hardware systems in one place, simplifying the increasingly complex landscape of wind-turbine operations. Further efficiencies are achieved by using the latest AI advancements to combine vibration, SCADA, oil particles, and temperature data for market-leading levels of certainty.

“Ten years ago, we spearheaded the drive toward predictive maintenance with the launch of fleetMONITOR, effectively transforming the industry approach to traditional condition monitoring,” said Won Shin, VP Product at ONYX Insight. “I am proud that we have continued this trajectory, scaling our offering to develop new innovations backed by engineering know-how to provide unparalleled visibility over the health of wind-turbine fleets, leading to a nearly 50 percent increase in turbines actively in the system in the last 12 months alone.

“Our technology sets the bar for flexibility, efficiency and quality in wind-turbine health management, and as reliability issues remain a key industry-wide challenge, our solutions have never been more relevant,” he said. “Predictive maintenance is no longer a ‘nice to have’; it’s a critical element in ensuring performance and efficiency across wind-turbine fleets, and we are proud to be a leader in this space. I look forward to the next 10 years of advancing the future of condition monitoring.”

FleetMONITOR is backed by ONYX’s experienced condition monitoring teams in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific, which work as extensions of operators’ organizations, supporting them with technology transfer on their journey to in-house monitoring and ultimately greater visibility and control over their assets’ health.

MORE INFO  onyxinsight.com

James Fisher and Sons and Tokyo Gas Engineering Solutions have signed a joint collaboration agreement to provide construction and operations and maintenance (O&M) services.

The partnership, signed in Tokyo on Feb. 6, will focus on Japan’s offshore wind market, aligned to the region’s target of delivering 10GW of offshore wind by 2030. Together, James Fisher and TGES will support customers to deliver efficient and effective operations at a crucial point in time for the industry, with a significant number of projects due to be under construction or operational by the end of 2030.

“We are excited to partner with TGES at such a crucial time in the country’s energy transition, recognizing that industry collaboration is a critical enabler to delivering 36 to 38 percent of total energy capacity from renewables, by 2030,” said Jean Vernet, James Fisher CEO.

“James Fisher will provide the guidance, expertise and exceptional services, alongside TGES’ strong engineering expertise, extensive local knowledge and established supply chain, providing customers with high-quality, cost-effective construction support and O&M services. This not only builds on our capability to deliver offshore wind services in Japan; it aligns with our long-term ambitions for the Northeast Asia Pacific region,” said Vernet.

“Offshore wind plays a crucial role in the decarbonization of Japan and its stable operation is critical to supporting energy decarbonization. TGES’ strength in engineering and O&M know-how in energy infrastructure, combined with James Fisher’s extensive capabilities in offshore operations, will provide significant value in terms of low cost and high reliability for offshore wind projects, an important renewable energy source in Japan,” said Yasuhiro Konishi, TGES CEO.

The James Fisher Renewables team has already delivered 29 offshore wind projects in Asia Pacific through its local Taiwanese office, with a global portfolio of 6.1GW. The company’s knowledge of the offshore wind sector will complement TGES’ experience in liquefied natural gas  and gas fired power plants, alongside established local infrastructure and deep set understanding of the Japanese market, particularly in engineering and O&M.

To further support this partnership, and in response to the growing skills gap facing the offshore wind industry, engineers will be given the opportunity to enroll in the James Fisher Academy Senior Authorized Person pathway, which offers online, classroom, and field-based learning to provide employees with critical skills.

MORE INFO  james-fisher.com

German drive manufacturer Flender has reached an agreement with Eickhoff to acquire Eickhoff Wind Asia Pvt Ltd (EWA) with its assembly plant in Walajabad Taluk, India.

Established Oct. 1, 2020, in India, Eickhoff Wind Asia Pvt Ltd (EWA) specializes in the production of wind gearboxes. The facility has a test bench capacity up to 8 MW. It is located in the greater Chennai area, close to Flender’s existing facility.

One of the pillars in Flender’s global footprint strategy is to expand and localize wind turbine drive systems in India. Next to the investments in its own production sites in Kharagpur and Chennai, the acquisition of Eickhoff Wind Asia allows Flender to further scale up and accelerate in pace. This is required to meet the growing needs of the renewable energy transition.

“Next to scaling up quickly, it is key for the wind industry that its supply chain is sustainable, resilient, and affordable. A diversified global manufacturing and service footprint combined with a high degree of localization is key to achieve this. The acquisition is another strategic milestone to further expand our footprint based on the needs of our valued partners and the industry,” said Flender Group CEO Andreas Evertz.

“Together, we continue to provide the wind market with cutting-edge technologies and services. Our partners will profit from increased capacity, availability and further reduced reaction times,” says Aarnout Kant, president of wind at Flender.

MORE INFO  flender.com

Eologix-ping, a specialist in blade health monitoring, presents on March 13 the webinar “Eyes on Lightning Strikes – Understanding the Challenges for Wind Turbines.”

The event is slated for Wednesday, March 13, commencing at 9 a.m. Central.

Wind turbine operators, industry professionals, and enthusiasts are invited to join the free session that delves into the issue of lightning strikes and their impact on wind turbines.

Eologix-ping is an innovator in the field of rotor blade monitoring for wind turbines, with an international team of around 50 employees in different time zones.

Speakers at the webinar include:

Angela Krcmar, head of sales Americas, Eologix-ping: With 15 years of experience in the renewables sector, Krcmar has been instrumental in identifying and supporting operators and OEMs with asset protection solutions. Her expertise contributes to optimizing fleet performance, ensuring safety for personnel, and benefiting the surrounding community.

Hans Loewenheath, product manager, Vaisala Xweather Lightningand: Loewenheath joined Vaisala in 2020 with a focus on lightning digital services. He is passionate about discovering customer value and helping organizations improve their safety and efficiency. Prior to joining Vaisala, he worked in industrial instrumentation and automation industry in sales, product management, and product marketing.

Allen Hall, president and CEO, Weather Guard Lightning Tech: Hall is a lightning protection engineer with more than 20 years of experience in aerospace and wind energy. He serves as an FAA Designated Engineering Representative (DER). As the President and CEO of Weather Guard Lightning Tech, he designed the StrikeTape lightning diverter system to protect wind turbines and aircraft worldwide. Allen co-hosts the Uptime Wind Energy Podcast.

Michael Bryan, asset manager, Tucson Electric Power and Oso Grande Wind:  Bryan joined TEP in 2004 as an operator at the Springerville Generating Station (SGS) and transitioned into the chemical technician role, then chemical services supervisor. After five years, Bryan transitioned to his current role as the asset manager for Oso Grande Wind.

MORE INFO  eologix-ping.com/en/webinar-lightning

The Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems IWES has conducted a boulder detection campaign in the Baltic Sea on behalf of Baltic Power for the foundations of Baltic Power’s planned wind turbines.

It applied the surveying technology along the planned subsea cable routes for the first time. The Manta Ray G1 measuring system allows the detection of boulders located up to 100 meters below the seafloor, as well as the survey of shallower objects along cable corridors. The technology, developed by Fraunhofer IWES, makes it possible to minimize risks posed by boulders during the installation of wind turbines, offshore substations, and cables.

it is necessary to investigate how many potential rocks are located in the immediate vicinity of the planned corridors in the subsurface and determine the locations of boulder fields. The cable-laying ships can then lay the power cables along the explored corridors while avoiding the detected boulders.

Baltic Power, a joint venture project between ORLEN and Northland Power, is planning to install an offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea with a total capacity of up to 1.2 gigawatts. The farm will comprise 76 wind turbines and two offshore substations. Boulders in the area can pose risks during the installation process, and the cable corridors also need to be surveyed to ensure that the subsea cables can be installed with the lowest risks.

The cables connect the wind turbines to the OSS and those, in turn, to the power lines on land. The project got underway in January 2023, and the IWES project team completed the required offshore data acquisition in summer 2023, which was followed by data processing and interpretation.

The Manta Ray G1 measuring system allows the scientists at Fraunhofer IWES to locate boulders at depths of up to 100 meters below the seafloor. The Manta Ray G1 comprises a towed array equipped with seismic sensors (hydrophones) and positioning systems. During the acquisition, the hydrophones pick up the sound waves emitted by a signal source and reflected or diffracted by the subsoil. This makes it possible to map the sediment layers and to detect rocks in the sub-seafloor. This method of diffraction imaging allows tracing of the acoustic energy diffracted by the boulders to its point of origin.

The IWES team also surveyed subsea cable corridors with the Manta Ray G1 technology for the very first time. For the customer, detection of boulders along the cable routes is equally important.

“We are proud to be able to help the renewable industry implement wind farm projects faster and in a more efficient manner, thereby minimizing risks. Our research work and successfully completed industry projects continue to validate our method, and we also satisfy industry requirements more comprehensively. This motivates us to further improve our seismic measurement methods, and we look forward to applying our expertise in further project, said project coordinator Gino Frielinghaus, head of department sub-surface Investigations at Fraunhofer IWES.

MORE INFO  iwes.fraunhofer

The U.S. offshore wind industry’s capacity has grown 800 percent, according to a new report published by the Oceantic Network.

The network has released its 2024 U.S. Offshore Wind Market Report. Among the findings:

The offshore wind capacity approved for construction by the federal government grew 800% –from 0.93 GW to 8.3 GW in 2023.

Developers terminated 51% of power contracts in place prior to 2023 and are seeking financial support for another 24%.

Despite setbacks, 2023 saw several key announcements of new manufacturing facilities, port infrastructure upgrades, and offshore wind vessels.

States spent much of 2023 working to create interstate cooperation frameworks in order to stabilize regional markets, lower project costs, and increase economic benefits.

“Global economic challenges hindered our progress in 2023, bringing uncertainty to this new and growing market. However, with each step back, we’ve seen the industry press forward and are seeing a transformation in market fundamentals,” said Liz Burdock, founder and CEO of Oceantic Network.

“New power contracts that are resistant to broader economic pressures are being executed and states like New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts remain dedicated to offshore wind development and investing in a domestic supply chain. In 2024, we are seeing the market rebound with interest rates and inflation falling along with new supply chain capacity,” said Burdock.

The report included predictions for the industry in 2024, including the potential for three or more new lease auctions as the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) opens new areas in the Gulf of Maine, Central Atlantic, Oregon Coast, and the Gulf of Mexico.

By December, states could award as much as 15.5 GW of new power offtake, about 60 percent of that will be used to replenish lost contracts. Total capacity that is approved for construction will continue to rise to at least 14.6 GW, the report predicted.

MORE INFO  oceantic.org

In support of the Biden-Harris administration’s goal of deploying 30 GW of offshore wind energy capacity by 2030, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) recently announced its approval of Empire Wind’s Construction and Operations Plan (COP), which authorizes construction and operation of the wind-energy project offshore. This is the project’s final approval from BOEM, following the agency’s Record of Decision approving the project in November 2023.

“We are proud to announce BOEM’s final approval of the Empire Wind offshore wind project,” said Director Elizabeth Klein. “This project represents a major milestone in our efforts to expand clean-energy production and combat climate change. The Biden-Harris administration is committed to advancing offshore wind projects like Empire Wind to create jobs, drive economic growth, and cut harmful climate pollution.”

The approved plan includes construction and operation of two offshore wind facilities, known as Empire Wind 1 and Empire Wind 2. The lease area is about 12 nautical miles south of Long Island, New York, and about 16.9 nautical miles east of Long Branch, New Jersey. Together these projects would have a total capacity of 2,076 MW of clean, renewable energy that BOEM estimates could power more than 700,000 homes each year.

On Nov. 21, 2023, the Department of the Interior announced its approval of the Empire Wind offshore wind project, which is the sixth commercial-scale offshore wind project approved by the Biden-Harris administration. It is expected to generate significant economic benefits for New York and the surrounding region, including supporting more than 830 jobs each year during the construction phase and about 300 jobs annually during the operations phase.

Since the start of the Biden-Harris administration, the Department of the Interior has approved the nation’s first six commercial-scale offshore wind-energy projects. BOEM has held four offshore wind lease auctions, which have brought in almost $5.5 billion in high bids, including a record-breaking sale offshore New York and New Jersey and the first-ever sales offshore the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico coasts. BOEM has also advanced the process to explore additional opportunities for offshore wind-energy development in the Gulf of Maine, Gulf of Mexico, offshore Oregon, and the Central Atlantic coast. The Department has taken steps to evolve its approach to offshore wind to drive toward union-built projects and a domestic-based supply chain.

MORE INFO  www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/empire-wind

PDE Offshore Corporation, a Taiwanese offshore geophysical and geotechnical investigation company, has upgraded its underwater acoustic positioning system onboard MV Geo Energy to Sonardyne’s Ranger 2 USBL system. This will further enhance its capability in the exploration of offshore renewable energy (ORE) in Taiwan.

Its new geotechnical vessel Geo Power, also equipped with Ranger 2 USBL system, is now under conversion work and will join the fleet in mid-2024. It will provide both seabed and downhole cone penetration testing services.

PDE Offshore has been conducting geotechnical and soil investigation in the shallow waters of the Taiwanese Strait since 2017 as the country looks to replace its coal-based energy with cleaner, sustainable alternatives such as offshore wind farms.

Working with most of the world’s leading ORE developers, PDE Offshore wants to increase its capability. This requires a proven USBL positioning system for its Geo technical vessel to work in greater water depths and challenging water conditions as PDE Offshore’s operations expanded.

Having successfully used Sonardyne’s Mini Ranger 2 for several years, investing in the full Ranger 2 system was a logical choice to provide the reliable dynamic positioning references essential for their operations, whilst also giving the capability for operating in greater depths and more challenging conditions.

Incorporating over 30 years of USBL knowledge, Sonardyne’s Ranger 2 system can be used to track anything, in any depth, from any vessel. Track a subsea asset, position or communicate with an underwater vehicle, dynamically position your vessel – or do all of this simultaneously. It can be used for both survey and construction phases of ORE and supports complex tracking scenarios such as structures and vehicles with multiple transponders and multiple remote offsets.

“We have been working with Sonardyne since 2017 using their Mini Ranger 2 system. The system is proven, reliable and our engineers are familiar with its operation. It was a simple and logical choice to go ahead and upgrade to the Ranger 2 system to improve our capability to take on greater projects in the region,” said Huang Hsin-chih, PDE Offshore president.

“Taiwan’s ambitions of becoming a green island means it is fast becoming a leading player offshore wind in Asia Pacific. We’re pleased to be a part this energy transition through PDE Offshore’s continued confidence and investment in our products. We look forward to supporting them in their future operations,” said Dan Tan, Sonardyne in Singapore regional sales manager. 

MORE INFO  https://www.sonardyne.com/

K2 Management (K2M), an energy transition project management and engineering consultancy, has been selected as the Owner’s Engineer for the MyeongRyang Offshore Wind project, a venture led by Pacifico Energy Korea (PEK), subsidiary of American renewable energy developer Pacifico Energy.

The MyeongRyang Offshore Wind project is the first phase of a larger 3.2GW offshore wind complex off the coast of Jindo-gun, Jeollanam-do in South Korea. The MyeongRyang Offshore Wind project involves the construction of a fixed offshore wind farm with an installed generation capacity of approximately 420MW. Set to commence construction in 2028, the wind farm is poised to play a pivotal role in South Korea’s target of installing 14.3GW of offshore wind by 2030.

K2 Management’s role as Owner’s Engineer for the MyeongRyang Offshore Wind project encompasses support in overall project management. This includes conducting wind analysis, metocean studies, conceptual designs, and preparing and selecting contractors for site investigation. K2M will continue to offer technical support throughout the site investigation process, as well as assistance in obtaining permits. Work began in December 2023, and K2M is expected to be actively involved until 2025.

”South Korea continues to build a strong offshore wind market, and the recent auctions last year are a positive reflection of the nation’s goals. We are incredibly proud to be able to contribute to that growth by supporting PEK in the first phase of their major 3.2GW wind complex, a project that will play a crucial role in helping the country decarbonize. By leveraging our international consultants, local expertise and collaborating closely with PEK’s team, we are well-positioned to ensure the successful development of this project,” said Jake Jung, K2’s country director for South Korea.

“The MyeongRyang Offshore Wind project is a significant development that demonstrates the vast potential of offshore wind power in South Korea,” said Seoung–Ho Choe, representative director/CEO of PEK. “This marks our inaugural venture into offshore wind in the country, and one of the largest offshore wind projects in Korea, and we’re excited to initiate the first phase of this project. Drawing upon K2 Management’s expertise and extensive experience in global offshore wind projects, we are confident in ensuring its success.“

MORE INFO  www.k2management.com

DNV, the independent assurance and risk management provider, has formally opened THInK, its new Training Hub for Industrial Knowledge, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. 

The dedicated training facility, the first of its kind in the region, will offer a range of comprehensive programs, underscoring DNV’s commitment to enhancing the abilities of those entering, and already in, multiple industry sectors. Ensuring that workers have the latest skills and knowledge is essential for businesses to create a competitive advantage in a rapidly evolving and challenging industry.

THInK will offer a personal and customizable approach to development, offering in-person, virtual, and hybrid training sessions. DNV will also make use of virtual reality (VR) technology to safely replicate hands-on experiences in high-risk industries.

The hub will allow access to a variety of internationally accredited courses on safety, lifting, Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWP), earth moving machinery and scaffolding, among others. Fully customized classes can be developed and adapted to meet the specific needs of clients or industries.

Each course is designed to cater to different areas of expertise and will be taught by trainers with years of field experience and are still involved in real-life projects on a daily basis.

“THInK will become a repository of industry knowledge that will truly allow people to realize their full potential and accelerate their development. This will be done through a combination of traditional training methods as well as innovative methodologies such as Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence. THInK is the latest testimony of our investment in UAE and our commitment to In-Country-Value,” said Mohamed Houari, DNV Inspection’s global managing director.

MORE INFO  www.dnv.com

Zelim, a UK-based startup developing search and rescue solutions, is joining forces with Ocean Winds, an international company dedicated to offshore wind energy and 50-50 joint venture between EDP Renewables and ENGIE, in a pilot project to test AI enabled person detection software for floating offshore wind farms. The objective is to test and prove Zelim’s ZOE technology, AI-enabled software dedicated to person overboard detection and capable of finding and tracking people, vessels and other objects, in real time and in harsh maritime conditions.

During the collaboration, Zelim will offer continuous monitoring of ZOE’s live feed from cameras installed on two turbine foundations on Ocean Winds’ WindFloat Atlantic project. The project will serve to train and improve the ZOE detection models whilst proving its capability.

ZOE will be detecting people and objects in the waters surrounding the turbines, providing direct alerts to the operation and maintenance control center in the case of a person falling overboard or an external vessel approaching the windfarm. By proving this capability, ZOE will support the site’s operation and effectiveness by providing an additional layer of health and safety support.

“Finding someone in distress at sea is often a game of chance, especially when you factor in waves, sea spray, darkness and how quickly people can drift in the current. Couple that with the limitations of a human searcher’s eyesight and concentration. We have been developing ZOE over the last three years to increase certainty in search, even in challenging conditions. We see ZOE providing a safety net around offshore assets, where if somebody ends up in the water, they will be detected and an immediate alert sent, thereby enabling a fast and efficient rescue. We are thrilled to be working with the team at Ocean Winds to create a new benchmark in safety for offshore workers,” said Doug Lothian, Zelim chief technology officer.

“As a pure offshore wind developer and operator of over 1.5 GW in the world, a key focus at Ocean Winds is the increase of the safety and health of our workers and communities, which always come first. We are very excited for the implementation of this project and are looking forward to the results, and potential deployment throughout our projects already in operation or under construction,” said Elena Caja, HSSEQ director.

MORE INFO  https://www.zelim.co/find/
https://www.oceanwinds.com/

New Jersey has awarded offshore wind contracts to the 1.3GW Attentive Energy Two and the 2.4 GW Leading Light Wind projects in an accelerated auction round.

Attentive Energy Two is a joint venture between TotalEnergies and Corio Generation. Leading Light, which is expected to start producing power in 2031, is a partnership between U.S. energy firms Invenergy and energyRe.

“Today’s Third Solicitation awards are undeniable proof that the future of offshore wind in New Jersey is as strong as ever,” said Gov. Phil Murphy.

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities said the two projects would bring about $6.8 billion in economic benefits to the state and provide enough clean energy to power around 1.8 million homes.

The projects will support the construction of a turbine tower factory at the New Jersey Wind Port and invest in the expansion of the EEW monopile facility at the Port of Paulsboro, the board said in a statement.

The awards came after a tumultuous year that saw the cancellation of several offshore wind projects in the U.S. Northeast due to higher costs. In October, Orsted canceled Ocean Wind 1 and 2 off the coast of New Jersey, citing soaring inflation, rising interest rates and delays in securing ships needed to build the projects.

New Jersey, which plans to build 11 GW of offshore wind energy by 2040, is slated to launch another offshore wind solicitation this year and expects to award those new contracts in early 2025.

MORE INFO  www.reutersevents.com/renewables/wind/

Global renewables firm Endiprev is strengthening its international profile after becoming the lead engineering services provider for the ground-breaking Vineyard Wind Project – the U.S.’s first utility-scale offshore wind-energy project.

The Texas-headquartered company delivers a range of specialized technical and engineering services for onshore, offshore, and high-voltage energy generation.

With a rapidly expanding U.S. operation based out of Dallas, Texas, Endiprev is performing mechanical and electrical completion and commissioning services for the Vineyard Wind Project and is poised to provide technical support and troubleshooting services for the duration of the project.

The news comes as the first GE Haliade-X wind turbine was recently installed at the project site 15 miles off the coast of Massachusetts.

Vineyard Wind 1 is jointly owned by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and Iberdrola, through a subsidiary of Avangrid Renewables. GE Vernova Offshore Wind is supplying a total of 62 wind turbines in order to generate 800 MW of clean, renewable energy for more than 400,000 homes and businesses, while reducing carbon emissions by 1.6 million tons per year.

A total of 120 Endiprev engineers and field technicians are expected to work on the Vineyard Wind Project over the next several months.

Endiprev Business Development Manager Tiago Ornelas said Endiprev secured the contract through GE Renewable Energy, part of GE Vernova Offshore Wind, building on a long relationship dating back more than a decade.

“Vineyard Wind represents the future of American offshore wind, delivering clean, sustainable energy with tremendous potential for job creation and carbon reduction,” he said. “We are thrilled to be supporting this ‘first-in-the-nation’ project. It signals the trust which GE Renewable Energy places in our work quality and professionalism. We have built a strong relationship over many years, and we look forward to continuing this successful partnership with GE and contributing to the future advancement of offshore wind in U.S. waters.”

Endiprev’s collaboration with GE Renewable Energy dates back to 2012, when it supported the installation of the first Haliade 150 Prototype in France. The firms have remained close partners working together on numerous offshore projects across Europe, North America and Asia, including the first project with Haliade-X technology in the Netherlands.

“Endiprev played a role in the delivery of the very first offshore wind farm in the US, performing commissioning activities for the Block Island project,” Ornelas said. “Since then, we have been a constant presence in Block Island, assisting GE with maintenance campaigns, troubleshooting, and other technical services. Most recently, we were honored to support GE Renewable Energy in the commissioning of the Saint-Nazaire Wind Farm in France. This project provided a perfect opportunity for many of our American technicians to gain offshore experience and train them specifically on the Haliade technology before bringing them back to Vineyard Wind. We have invested a great deal of time, effort, and resources training our team in order to excel throughout the project, and we look forward to playing an important role helping unleash offshore wind at utility scale for the first time in U.S. waters.”

MORE INFO  www.endiprev.com