Daily Archives: January 14, 2022

Seychelles and ASEAN will co-host the ASEAN AFRICA Forum in 2022 – Social News XYZ

Posted: January 14, 2022 at 8:54 pm

Home General Seychelles and ASEAN will co-host the ASEAN AFRICA Forum in 2022

Posted By: January 13, 2022

Download logoThe Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Mr Sylvestre Radegonde, held discussions with the Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), H.E. Dato Lim Jock Hoi, at the ASEAN headquarters in Jakarta yesterday.

The ASEAN Secretary General, who was recently on a working visit to Seychelles, recalled his dialogue with the President of the Republic of Seychelles and the members of the cabinet of ministers in December 2021, reiterating his intention to follow up on the topics discussed.

Minister Radegonde assured the Secretary General of Seychelles commitment to continue to enhance relations with ASEAN and the individual member countries of the organisation.

The Secretary General has proposed that ASEAN co-hosts an ASEAN AFRICA Forum in Seychelles this year. The forum will aim at sharing the upcoming prospects to foster economic growth.

Minister Radegonde was accompanied by Mr Nico Barito, Seychelles Envoy to ASEAN.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism - Foreign Affairs Department, Republic of Seychelles.

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High Commissioner Morel represents Seychelles at the SADC Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government – Social News XYZ

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Home General High Commissioner Morel represents Seychelles at the SADC Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government

Posted By: January 14, 2022

Download logoThe Southern African Development Community (SADC) convened an extraordinary summit meeting this week in Lilongwe to discuss the organizations efforts and deployment in bringing back peace and security in the northern province of Cabo Delgado of Mozambique. High Commissioner Morel attended the Summit on behalf of President Ramkalawan, which concluded on Wednesday, 12thJanuary 2022.

The Summit was officially opened and chaired by His Excellency Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi, in his capacity as the Chairperson of SADC, and was attended by the heads of state and high ranking government officials of the SADC members. The meeting considered the latest reports on the evolution of the situation in the province and acknowledged that the SADC Mission in Mozambique had made considerable progress in combating acts of terrorism and extreme violence. The missions mandate has been extended for a further three months.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism - Foreign Affairs Department, Republic of Seychelles.

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High Commissioner Morel represents Seychelles at the SADC Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government - Social News XYZ

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So Tom and Prncipe becomes member of FiTI – SeafoodSource

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The African island nation of So Tom and Prncipe has announced a new resolution to join the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI).

The country whose population relies on fish as aprimary source of protein is now the sixth nation committed to increase transparency in its fisheries management through the FiTI standard, following Mauritania, Seychelles, Senegal, Cabo Verde, and Madagascar, according to a statement by FiTI.

So Tom and PrncipeMinister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development Francisco Martins dos Ramos saidhiscountry recognized early on that its valuable fisheries resources were being exploited beyond sustainable levels, by national and foreign fleets, and in a non-transparent and non-inclusive manner.

Therefore, we seek to create mechanisms to reverse this trend and help regenerate the exploitation of fisheries resources through the development of a sustainable fisheries management system based on fisheries research, fisheries administration and an inspection system, the minister said in a letter to FiTI International Board Chair Valeria Merino.

With the countrys commitment to join FiTI the next phase will be to work on completing the steps required to submit an official application.

A first country mission by the FiTI International Secretariat has been scheduled for February and March 2022.

The country has a catch capacity of roughly 29,000 metric tons of fish a year, and through pledging to join the FiTI standard, it has vowed to begin implementing transparency initiatives backed by the group.

According to FiTI, the standard provides governments, the fishing industry, and civil society with a comprehensive and credible way to achieve and maintain high levels of transparency on the management of the marine fisheries sector and the activities of fishers and fishing companies.

FiTI Global has listed Comoros, Ecuador, Lebanon, Mexico, Mauritius, and Peru as target countries for its membership drive.

So Tom and Prncipe's fisheries are exclusively artisanal and largely focused on small pelagics.Through its involvement with FiTI, the country also plans to involve stakeholders throughout the value chain to remain consistent with FiTIs objectives.

An earlier commitment by So Tom and Prncipe to join FiTI in 2018 was delayed after the country had a change in government in 2019. The process was restarted in November 2020, with engagement between the FiTI International Secretariat and key seafood stakeholders in the country including the government, businesses, and civil society collaborators with the support of MAR Ambiente e Pesca Artesanal (MARAPA) a FiTI Global partner.

With this commitment, the government of So Tom and Prncipe is setting a decisive milestone for transparency in the management of its marine fisheries, FiTI Global said.

"Transparent commercial and financial flows in the fisheries sector can help the country to achieve more responsible, equitable, and profitable fisheries, while better governance will reassure potential investors and attract more foreign investment," FiTI said.

Photo courtesy ofCesar J. Pollo/Shutterstock

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Guinness Book of World Records: Meet 190-year-old Jonathan, the worlds oldest living tortoise – The Indian Express

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In what is believed to be a rare feat, Jonathan, a 190-year-old tortoise has been named as the worlds oldest living land animal by Guinness Book of World Records. The tortoise, at St Helena island, British Overseas Territory, celebrates its 190th birthday in 2022.

According to the records website, Jonathan is believed to have been born in 1832, thus making him 190 years old in 2022. Jonathans age is an estimation based on the fact that he was fully mature, and hence at least 50 years old, when he arrived in St Helena from the Seychelles in 1882. In all likelihood, he is even older than we think, the records site stated.

The official record title states that he is the oldest chelonian a category which encompasses all turtles, terrapins and tortoises.

Now, as he ages, he has no sense of smell and is blind. But his hearing though is excellent and he loves the company of humans, and responds well to his vet Joe Hollins voice as he associates him with a feast.

The records site also suggested that the veterinary section is still feeding him by hand once a week to boost his calories, vitamins, minerals and trace elements.

The previous record was held by another tortoise Tui Malila who lived to be at least 188. It was presented to the royal family of Tonga by Captain Cook in 1777 and remained in their care until its death in 1965, the site mentioned.

Among Jonathans favourite foods are cabbage, cucumber, carrot, apple and other seasonal fruits.

He loves banana, but it tends to gum up his mouth. Lettuce hearts, though not very nutritious, are a favourite, the site said.

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How much should offshore wind cost? Look to Massachusetts – E&E News

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A proposal to revamp Massachusetts offshore wind programs is pitting cost-wary Democratic lawmakers against the states Republican governor, who wants to make ocean turbines a centerpiece of climate goals.

Gov. Charlie Baker appeared yesterday before a joint energy committee controlled by state Democrats, to promote what he called a "game-changing" bill for Massachusetts offshore wind industry. Sponsored by Baker himself, the bill aims to bolster the industry and would eliminate an existing requirement that each new offshore wind project be cheaper than the last.

That condition, which kicks in when utilities and the state select project proposals, was put in place by Massachusetts in 2016, when the cost of offshore wind electricity was largely a matter of guesswork. It was intended to protect the public from untenably expensive contracts.

Now, Baker and the bills supporters say the requirement is causing Massachusetts the first U.S. state to contract for offshore wind to lose out to neighbors like New York and New Jersey in the ongoing competition for industry investments.

"Without prompt action, and continued growth and evolution, we lose risking our status and this is something we all talk about as a leader in this space," said Baker yesterday during his appearance before the Legislatures Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.

Bakers proposal highlights broader debates about the offshore wind sector, including how laws can affect company behavior and whether the cost of scaling up new technologies is achievable without hurting low-income ratepayers.

The fate of Bakers proposal also could alter the landscape for offshore wind in other parts of the East Coast, supporters say. If the legislation passes and functions as intended, Massachusetts could win new investments in manufacturing that have increasingly flowed toward New York and New Jersey, which have the nations biggest mandates for buying offshore wind power.

The cost of offshore wind is likely to decline as the industry gains size, regardless of state requirements, Baker and other energy officials say. The flexibility to reach slightly more expensive deals would let developers build in creative solutions for transmission and new technologies, like hydrogen and long-duration storage, that could save money or juice progress toward local climate goals, they say.

At least one influential opponent state Sen. Michael Barrett, a Democratic co-chair of the joint committee counters that erasing the price requirement would be unnecessarily risky for Massachusetts ratepayers, however.

"Massachusetts consumers are better off with constraints on project prices," Barrett wrote in a Jan. 10 letter to the governor.

The states climate goals, which include a 50 percent greenhouse gas emissions cut by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050, envision a massive shift from gas cars and building heat appliances toward electric technologies, he wrote, making controls on the price of electricity especially important in coming years.

Other Northeastern states have often agreed to pay far more for offshore wind, ranging up to about double the per-kilowatt rate in Massachusetts, Barrett noted in the letter.

The price requirement had been successful in bringing new jobs and investment to the state, Barrett told the governor during the latters appearance before the joint committee yesterday. Baker supported the requirement five years ago, when the economics of offshore wind were far less well-established.

"My hat is doffed to you. But I cant believe that you would want to put us where New York is today by lifting the cap altogether, or putting us where, God forbid, New Jersey or Connecticut ratepayers are today," said Barrett.

"We cant depend on market competition to substitute for a price cap as a protection for Massachusetts consumers," he said.

Known as "An Act to Power Massachusetts Clean Energy Economy," the bills odds of passage are unclear, although the governor has important allies for his proposal. The state Houses Democratic speaker, Ron Mariano, has backed the plan, along with offshore wind developers and environmental groups like the Sierra Club and Environment Massachusetts.

The bill also includes other features that may attract Democratic legislators, like the launch of a new $750 million fund for innovative clean energy technologies, in part using federal money from last years American Rescue Plan stimulus package. Separately, it would shift some decisionmaking power over offshore wind contracts from the utilities toward the state executive branchs energy authority.

The legislations clean energy fund could also open a new path for Massachusetts as it seeks to meet its climate goals, if it works according to the governors vision.

Lifting the price requirement, Baker argued yesterday, could free up Massachusetts to settle on deals that pair offshore wind with next-generation technologies that would provide 24/7 sources of clean energy, like hydrogen and long-duration energy storage.

"Im one of these people who really does believe that if we actually figure out storage and turn offshore wind and solar into a hard, completely reliable and dependable [solution] strategically, it changes kind of everything with respect to the way we think about some of this stuff," said Baker.

Such "firm" resources would mark a change from current energy transition plans in Massachusetts, which has counted on Canadian hydropower as a round-the-clock substitute for oil and gas. But neighboring states have repeatedly rejected the huge transmission lines that would transport the hydropower into Massachusetts.

"The power of innovation, in this space, may be much bigger than we realize," said Baker.

The debate also shone a light on the recent consolidation of the offshore wind sector, a phenomenon that could shape clean energy goals in unforeseen ways.

In 2018, for instance, 11 developers submitted formal bids to the Interior Department for three federal lease areas off the coast of Massachusetts.

In 2021, just two offshore wind project proposals were submitted to Massachusetts, which was awarding the rights to produce the power. In the end, both competitors won project rights.

Two major developers, rsted and Equinor, decided to sit out the state solicitation. In a statement to E&E News, spokespeople for rsted and its utility partner, Eversource, attributed their absence to the price requirement, saying it "impacted our ability to accomplish" objectives like investing in the local supply chain. "We look forward to future reforms that will help us achieve these goals," the companies wrote.

During the governors appearance before the Massachusetts committee, however, Barrett noted that only a slightly larger handful of developers were leading offshore wind investments in Northeastern states.

"Unfortunately, at the moment, with or without a price cap, the entire upper East Coast has attracted very few players, and thats a sobering thing to think about," Barrett told the governor.

One version of a compromise, Barrett suggested, might involve removing transmission solutions from the price requirements, rather than abandoning the latter entirely.

"I ask you if there is grounds here for compromise," he said. "Can we find our way to some measured outcome here, rather than rolling the dice, as New York, New Jersey and Connecticut have done?"

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Biden admin to hold huge offshore wind sale, modernize grid – E&E News

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The Biden administration today announced a blockbuster wind sale in the waters off New York, alongside a bundle of clean energy initiatives aimed at speeding up renewable deployment and modernizing the countrys aging and vulnerable electricity grid.

The efforts include $20 billion in grid funding from the Department of Energy, a rural renewables pilot program from the Department of Agriculture and a multiagency collaboration to advance onshore solar, wind and geothermal energy projects.

In addition, the Interior Department next month will hold an offshore wind lease sale in a shallow-water region off the coasts of New York and New Jersey called the New York Bight.

This is the first lease sale for the Biden administration, which has already committed to rapidly expanding the fledgling offshore wind industry in the United States. The White House plans to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2030, part of the larger push to zero out carbon emissions from the U.S. electricity sector.

The New York Bight lease area alone could support enough offshore wind to power 2 million homes.

We are at an inflection point for domestic offshore wind energy development. We must seize this moment and we must do it together, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said in a statement.

To support the massive growth of renewables anticipated by the Biden administration, the Department of Energy also announced today the launch of an initiative to deploy funding to accelerate grid improvements.

The foundation of our climate and clean energy goals is a safe, reliable, and resilient electric grid that is planned hand-in-hand with community partners and industry stakeholders, said Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm in a statement.

Granholm said the initiative would be a job booster to upgrade the nations grid, connect more Americans to clean electricity and broadband, and reliably move clean energy to where its needed most.

A senior White House official said in a briefing last night that the grid efforts would be crucial to meeting Bidens goal of reaching 100 percent carbon emissions-free electricity in the United States by midcentury, but they also respond to the need to prepare an aging grid in the face of climate change.

Extreme weather events like the Dixie wildfire, Hurricane Ida and the 2021 Texas [grid] freeze have been made it clear that our existing energy infrastructure will not endure accelerating impacts of extreme weather spurred by climate change, said the official, who spoke with reporters on the condition of anonymity.

He added: On top of that, the queue of projects waiting to connect to the grid, both clean generation projects as well as electricity storage projects, theyre looking for interconnection.

Biden administration officials also hinted at the need for greater action through Congress, where a reconciliation package filled with clean energy and climate-focused spending stalled shortly before the New Year.

Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) today echoed the need for that legislation to move forward, while praising Bidens renewable initiatives.

Meeting our climate goals requires a well-coordinated approach across the U.S. economy one that taps into American ingenuity and harnesses our most abundant resources, including the wind that blows off our coasts, he said in a statement. Its time for Congress to do our part. We must pass the clean energy investments in Build Back Better Act and truly unleash our nations clean energy future.

The clean energy announcements pleased environmental groups in many respects but also spurred some criticism that renewable deployment isnt paired with dramatically curbing fossil fuel emissions.

The progress this administration has made to advance offshore wind and other renewable energy deployment is a valuable asset to a national climate strategy, said Chase Huntley, the Wilderness Societys vice president of strategy. But the administration needs to be turning all the knobs as far as they can for the sake of climate, especially on public lands.

The New York Bight lease sale on Feb. 23 will offer 480,000 acres to offshore wind developers. It is the largest single lease offering to date in the United States.

Amanda Lefton, director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, noted in a call with reporters today that the sale also shows that the administration is working with other ocean users, like fishermen.

Criticism from fishermen has been a long-standing hindrance for offshore wind developers and the federal agencies promoting offshore wind deployment.

But Lefton noted that BOEM removed more than 70 percent of the area considered for the sale to respect environmental concerns and other ocean users. She stressed that fishermen should be involved from the beginning of the process of wind development.

The administration has also built-in several provisions to tie the outcome of this sale to its clean energy and jobs goals, such as including measures meant to encourage developers to bundle union labor commitments into their bids.

The leases will also offer financial incentives for project proposals that will use turbine blades and other offshore wind components that are manufactured in the United States.

The announcement of the sale drew praise from industry groups that have been pushing for the New York Bight lease sale for years.

With their large economies and massive populations, New York and New Jersey are two coastal states critical to the development of American offshore wind, Erik Milito, president of the National Ocean Industries Association, said in a statement, also noting that the economic benefits of this sale will cascade outside of the New York region.

We are just scratching the surface of what American offshore wind will achieve, he said.

Interior also announced today a new working group among BOEM, New York and New Jersey to collaborate on supply chain growth, job creation and other shared issues.

The two states have set some of the most ambitious targets in the country to procure offshore wind power and helped drive the growth of the industry in the United States.

New Jersey is already committed to creating nearly one-quarter of the nations offshore wind-generation market, Gov. Phil Murphy (D) said in a statement. By acting on this shared vision, we can promote our joint offshore wind goals, and deliver benefits to residents of both states, particularly those in overburdened communities.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), who recently announced a $500 million state investment in offshore wind, said growing a clean energy economy will take collaboration at all levels.

We must chart an ambitious path toward a cleaner energy economy now more than ever, and todays milestone further highlights New Yorks commitment creating a greener tomorrow, she said.

Other aspects of the clean energy rollout today include an agreement between NOAA Fisheries and Interior to collaborate on offshore wind.

Meanwhile, DOE will also be releasing a report identifying priorities for offshore wind growth, like grid development, improved permitting processes and supply chain expansion, according to a fact sheet released by the White House.

The Department of Energy today disclosed its targeted strategy to channel more than $20 billion in funding to secure construction of major high-voltage transmission line projects that link prime sources of wind and solar energy to population centers.

Transmission is critical to addressing the climate crisis through the decarbonization of the power sector and electrification of transportation and other sectors, DOE said in a notice of intent on the program.

DOEs statement also called transmission grid expansion a critical security investment: Modernizing and expanding the nations electric transmission grid will improve the reliability and resilience of electricity delivery in the face of extreme weather and supply disruptions; unlock access to cleaner, lower-cost energy for consumers and businesses; and create good-paying American jobs.

DOE said it will develop a national blueprint for transmission lines that help states achieve clean energy goals and strengthen power facilities against increasingly severe extreme weather assaults. A top priority, DOE said, is managing the distribution of thousands of megawatts of new power supplies coming into Atlantic states from offshore wind farms.

According to DOE, the plan seeks to overcome planning, funding and siting roadblocks that have effectively blocked large-scale power line projects in the United States for several decades. The notice includes the first details on how DOE, working with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, plans to use the authority in the infrastructure law to designate national corridors where federal agencies and transmission developers could focus top priority project development. DOEs collaboration with developers can entail the design, development, construction, operation, maintenance, or ownership of a project, the notice said.

Where necessary, DOE will become an anchor customer on new or upgraded transmission lines, buying up to 50 percent of a lines power deliveries for up to 40 years, to ensure upfront financing of top priority projects. Once a project is fully funded, DOE would market its capacity to private parties.

Using new authority in the federal infrastructure law, DOE would team up with transmission line developers and with federal and state agencies including the Interior Department and the Forest Service to create rights of way for major power line projects. Existing rail and highway rights of way could be included in the new transmission paths, DOE said.

Timetables for carrying out the new policies are still being developed, DOE said.

The Biden administrations agencies are also signing on to a memorandum of understanding to coordinate and rapidly roll out clean energy projects onshore.

Though the announcement was sparse on details, this would include collaboration among the departments of the Interior, Agriculture, Energy and Defense and EPA.

"To reach a carbon-free electricity sector by 2035, the United States has to streamline the permitting process to deploy more renewable energy projects," said Deputy Secretary of Energy David Turk in a statement. "This Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. Departments of the Interior, Agriculture, Defense, Energy, and the Environmental Protection Agency will prioritize and expedite permitting decisions, create new jobs, and protect our Nations diverse land."

Streamlining the permitting process for energy projects has long been a concern for industries, both fossil fuel-based and nontraditional. But accelerated federal review has also often raised the ire of environmental groups that fear public input and environmental concerns will take a back seat to efficiency.

That conflict was particularly heated during the Trump administrations push to tighten the timeline of environmental reviews for energy projects on public lands.

At last nights press briefing, the senior White House official said that the Biden agency collaboration would not reduce the environmental review process.

This is not about curbing any review; its about making more robust our ability to partner with folks who want to harness this clean energy on public lands, he said.

Some conservation policy groups praised the administrations efforts today.

Christy Goldfuss, senior vice president for energy and environment policy at the left-leaning Center for American Progress, said Bidens efforts will modernize the electric grid and fuel economic growth.

The largest offshore lease sale to date will keep and create good union jobs, she said. Expediting clean energy deployment onshore will ensure that our public lands help tackle climate change rather than contribute to it. These are the benefits of taking climate action that can support communities across the country.

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Biden admin advances Gulf and Calif. offshore wind reviews – E&E News

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The Interior Department today advanced reviews of how offshore wind farms could affect the Gulf of Mexico and the northern Pacific Ocean, paving the way for the burgeoning industry to extend to the major coastal regions.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced it will study roughly 30 million acres of ocean, extending from Louisiana along the Texas coast to the Mexican border, for potential wind energy development.

The bureau, which manages offshore energy leasing, also released a draft assessment today of offshore wind impacts in roughly 206 square miles off the coast of Northern California known as the Humboldt Wind Energy Area.

The studies lay the groundwork for advancing offshore wind projects in federal waters: BOEM assesses potential offshore wind activities like seismic surveys and construction against resources that may need protections like marine habitats and archaeological sites.

In the Gulf of Mexico, the environmental reviews will help the federal government define what areas can best support offshore wind arrays, with the least impacts to other industries, marine life and the environment.

BOEM Director Amanda Lefton said the Gulf review will help ensure that any development in the region is done responsibly and in a way that avoids, reduces or mitigates potential impacts to the ocean and to ocean users.

If Interior establishes specific wind energy areas in the Gulf, it could then hold lease auctions, enticing developers to compete for rights to build offshore wind farms.

The process in California is further along. With the Humboldt Wind Energy Area already determined, BOEMs next step after finalizing its draft review would be to hold a lease sale. Its accepting public comments on the draft for 30 days.

The Humboldt energy area could support up to 1.6 gigawatts of offshore wind energy, enough to power half a million homes.

If Interior holds offshore wind lease sales in two regions, developers also would face another round of environmental review specific to their proposed project before BOEM would grant the right to build.

The Biden administration has committed to greatly expanding the offshore wind sector in the U.S., a nascent market with just two pilot projects currently operating. The administration aims to approve 16 full-scale offshore wind farms by the end of the presidents first term.

Some Gulf political leaders, like Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D), have also voiced support for offshore wind, which could blend with the existing offshore oil and gas sector in the Gulf of Mexico, relying on its workforce and offshore expertise.

For the Biden administration, this blending is about supporting a shift away from fossil fuel development.

The Gulf of Mexico is well-positioned to support a transition to a renewable energy future, as much of the infrastructure already exists to support offshore wind development in the region, Lefton said in a statement.

California political leaders also support the industry growing there. Last May, the Biden administration announced it had reached an agreement with state leaders on deploying offshore wind in the Pacific Ocean (E&E News PM, May 25, 2021).

The potential impacts of a growing offshore wind sector have become a concern for fishermen in the Northeast, where the first wind farms will be built.

Just today, the Responsible Offshore Development Alliance, a fishermens group, published recommendations for BOEM to strengthen mitigation measures and work closely with fishermen when considering offshore wind development.

Commercial fishermen should be considered partners and be meaningfully engaged throughout the process with a reasonable expectation of informing the result, said Eric Brazer, deputy director of the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders Alliance in Galveston, Texas.

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One of the world’s biggest offshore wind farms gears up for full operations – CNBC

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One of the turbines at the Triton Knoll offshore wind farm, which is located in waters off England's east coast.

Ian Greenwood

Turbine commissioning at one of the world's biggest offshore wind farms is complete and full operations are slated to begin in the first quarter of 2022, according to German power firm RWE.

The 857 megawatt Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm is situated in waters off England's east coast and uses 90 wind turbines from Danish firm Vestas.

In a statement Thursday RWE said Triton Knoll would produce "sufficient electricity to meet the needs of around 800,000 homes each year." Investment in the project amounts to approximately 2 billion (around $2.74 billion).

RWE has a 59% stake in Triton Knoll. Its other owners are Kansai Electric Power and J-Power, who have stakes of 16% and 25%, respectively. RWE is responsible for the project's construction, operation and maintenance.

Triton Knoll produced its first power in March 2021and its final turbine was installed last September.

The North Sea, where Triton Knoll is located, is home to a number of large-scale offshore wind facilities. These include the 1.2 gigawatt Hornsea One development, which is located in waters off Yorkshire and uses 174 turbines.

Looking ahead, major projects planned for the North Sea include the Dogger Bank Wind Farm, which will have a total capacity of 3.6 GW once completed. The development of the project is taking place in three phases.

U.K. authorities want 40 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030. The European Union, which the U.K. left in January 2020, is targeting 300 GW of offshore wind by the middle of this century.

Across the Atlantic, the U.S. has some way to go to catch up with Europe. America's first offshore wind facility, the 30 megawatt Block Island Wind Farm in waters off Rhode Island, only started commercial operations in late 2016.

Change looks to be coming, however. In November ground was broken on a project dubbed the United States' "first commercial scale offshore wind farm."

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Virginia, Denmark partner to boost offshore wind industry – WAVY.com

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RICHMOND, Va. (WAVY) In some of Gov. Ralph Northams final days in office, Virginia has signed an agreement with Denmark to boost the offshore wind industry.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed virtually Thursday morning by Secretary of Commerce and Trade (SOCT) Brian Ball and Dan Jrgensen, minister of the Danish Ministry of Climate Energy and Utilities.

Northams office on Thursday evening released information about the agreement, which establishes a partnership between Virginia and Denmark to share knowledge of challenges, successes, and best practices when it comes to developing offshore wind and its supply chain in each location.

We have purposely worked to position Virginia as a leader in offshore wind. Off our coast, we have the first turbines in federal waters, and we have two major wind farmers in development. Our Port of Virginia will the launching point for turbine components on the East Coast. We are well positioned to continue growing in this area, said Northam. Denmark has the highest proportion of wind power in the world, and we can learn a great deal from their experience. I thank Denmark for its cooperation and look forward to working together to build this new industry, promote clean energy, and create jobs right here in the Commonwealth.

Together, Virginia and Denmark work to find ways to quickly and efficiently develop an offshore wind industry. Theyll also look at bigger picture items such as renewable energy, mitigating climate change, and energy security.

Virginia already installed the first two wind turbines in federal waters in 2020. The area will also be home to two major wind farms, which are in development now. The Coastal Virginia Offshore Windfarm will be the largest offshore wind farm in the U.S., generating 2.6 gigawatts of power when its completed in 2026. The Kitty Hawk offshore wind farm will be created by Avangrid Renewables off the coast of North Carolina that will produce 2.5 gigawatts of power.

Virginias ambition and Denmarks experience make a perfect partnership. I am therefore very pleased that Denmark and Virginia now establishes new cooperation on offshore wind. Virginia has made an ambitious decision to build a 2.6 gigawatt offshore wind farm by 2026. I hope that our long regulatory experiences within offshore wind can contribute to a successful undertaking in Virginia. At the same time, Denmark can be inspired by new and innovative approaches. Together, we stand stronger in the green transition,said Jrgensen, minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities.

Virginia already has two Danish firms present in the state: rsted and Rose Holm Inc.

In January 2020, Northam announced an agreement with rsted to lease a portion of the Portsmouth Marine Terminal for offshore wind staging materials and equipment. The lease is expected to run through 2026 as rsted installs nearly 3,000 megawatts of wind energy projects in the United States.

Having built the worlds first offshore wind farm in Denmark and installed Americas first turbines in federal waters, ourrsted team is proud the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Kingdom of Denmark have partnered to help advance the U.S. offshore wind industry,said David Hardy, CEO ofrsted Offshore North America.Building a sustainable offshore wind energy industry in the U.S. requires both international experience and local expertise. This partnership formally establishes the dialogue to achieve this and will help ensure a strong clean energy future that creates good-paying jobs.

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Industry Urges German Gov’t to Accelerate and Stabilise Offshore Wind Expansion – Offshore WIND

Posted: at 8:53 pm

Bremerhaven-based association WAB e.V., together with several other German organisations and trade associations, has called on the new German government to accelerate and distribute its offshore wind expansion targets more evenly over the coming years, and to strengthen employment and value chain.

The call for action follows the release of the latest offshore wind statistics from Deutsche Windguard, which show no new installations in the country in 2021. Overall, Germany currently has 1,501 offshore wind turbines with a capacity of 7,794 MW connected to the grid.

Tender volumes should be significantly increased this year to enable more construction activity more quickly, said the German Wind Energy Association (BWE), the German Offshore Wind Farm Operators Association, the Offshore Wind Energy Foundation, VDMA Power Systems, and WAB e.V.

The offshore wind targets recently set in the coalition agreement must now be incorporated into the countrys Offshore Wind Act(WindSeeG)without delay in order to avoid further loss of time, according to the organisations.

The commitment of the new German coalition to significantly accelerate the expansion of offshore wind energy is just as correct as the concrete target of at least 30 gigawatts by 2030. This target creates a positive perspective for the entire value chain, BWE, BWO, VDMA Power Systems, WAB and the OFFSHORE-WINDENERGIE Foundation commented on the new expansion targets.

Now the grid and spatial planning for the implementation of the targeted expansion path should be revised without delay. The aim must be to leverage all acceleration potentials in order to enable an efficient and climate-protection-friendly expansion.

The planned tender volumes must be significantly increased as quickly as possible in order to maintain and expand the existing innovation potential as well as employment and the value chain in Germany, the industry organisations said.

In addition, the spatial potential in German waters must be fully exploited. Conflicts of use should be resolved pragmatically and in line with climate protection, as such also supporting the interests of environmental protection.

It is also important to avoid an expansion bottleneck at the end of the decade, which could lead to bottlenecks in the supply chain and pose challenges for the industrys capacity planning especially since other nations have also increased their expansion targets, the organisations said in a joint press release on 13 January.

They also urged the German government to clarify at an early stage which additional offshore wind expansion requirements will be required for the increased target of 10 GW for electrolysis capacity for green hydrogen.

These areas should also be promptly located and put out to tender without delay. The regulatory framework for green hydrogen requires jointly coordinated specifications in Germany and Europe to make the market ramp-up of the green hydrogen economy commercially feasible, the organisations said.

The appropriate infrastructure is important for the medium- to long-term expansion of offshore wind energy. This also includes the coordinated expansion of electricity and gas grids for the production of green hydrogen in the North and Baltic Seas.

The industry organisations have also recommended that the authorities responsible for the expansion of offshore wind energy must be quickly reinforced in terms of personnel in order to be able to cope with the significantly accelerated planned expansion.

In addition, in order to have the necessary skilled workers for the planned long-term expansion of offshore wind energy,relevant study programs must be optimized. Training and continuing education programs must be supported and promoted, the German industry pointed out.

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Industry Urges German Gov't to Accelerate and Stabilise Offshore Wind Expansion - Offshore WIND

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