Category Archives: Offshore

A massive wind farm 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach moved one giant step closer to reality last November when Dominion Energy filed its Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind development plan with the State Corporation Commission. Dominion expects to begin construction on CVOW in 2024, and have all 2,587 megawatts of power connected to the grid in 2026.

But the wind farms price tag of $9.8 billion, and its $87 per megawatt hour levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), is causing heartburn over at the attorney generals office. Scott Norwood, an expert for the Division of Consumer Counsel, criticized the project on three main grounds: that the cost of building CVOW is more than building a new nuclear reactor and 2-3 times as much as building solar facilities; that Dominion has overstated the benefits of the project; and that in any event, Dominion doesnt need the energy before at least 2035.

Recognizing that the General Assembly already made most of these points moot by declaring the project to be in the public interest, however, Norwood also recommended the SCC adopt consumer safeguards including periodic status reports and cost oversight.

Anyone familiar with Dominions tendency to pad profits will say Amen to the call for strict SCC oversight. With a project this huge, the SCC must be especially vigilant. Some of Norwoods criticisms, however, seem more calculated for effect, while others miss the point.

Norwood certainly knows his comment that CVOW is more expensive than nuclear is not true. The price tag of the only two nuclear reactors under development in the U.S. has ballooned so high ($30 billion and counting) that it almost makes Dominions former dream of a third nuclear reactor at North Anna look good. Norwoods own devastating testimony likely helped kill the North Anna 3 project, which would have delivered electricity for $190 per megawatt-hour.

Norwood says Dominion has fudged the CVOW numbers and the project will cost customers more than the company admits, but still, Dominion would have to gold-plate every turbine before it could touch the cost of nuclear.

This wasnt the first time the General Assembly put its thumb on the scale for a Dominion project. The habit goes back to 2008, when a Dominion coal plant, the Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center, became the first project legislatively deemed in the public interest. Even back then its projected levelized cost of electricity was $93/MWh. Today, VCHEC loses so much money for customers that Dominion faces pressure at the SCC to close the plant.

For that matter, I also see that my latest electricity bill from Dominion includes a non-bypassable charge for coal ash disposal of $5.68an amount that exceeds the charges for participation in RGGI, new solar projects and the RPS program, combined. Pollution is also a cost of using fossil fuels, but its never included in the LCOE.

Mr. Norwood did not suggest Dominion pursue new nuclear or new fossil fuel plants instead of offshore wind. If Dominion needed new generation, he says, solar is the low-cost alternative. Its cheaper to build, and it produces electricity at a lower cost than offshore wind. Hes right: if all you cared about was LCOE, no one would build anything but solar in Virginia.

But as critics are quick to note, solar cant provide electricity 24/7. Offshore wind has a hidden superpower: while solar production peaks in the middle of the day, the wind off our coast can produce electricity both day and night, is often strongest in the evening when demand rises, and is stronger in the winter when solar is less productive. Solar and offshore wind are complementary, and we cant get to a carbon-free grid without both. So yes, we need CVOW.

Virginias leaders are also taking the long view on cost. In any new industry, early projects are more expensive than later ones. Europes 30 years of experience developing an offshore wind industry shows costs fall steadily as project experience and new technology enable developers to produce more energy with fewer turbines. States up and down the East Coast are pursuing offshore wind projects not only because they want clean energy, but because they expect these early investments to lead to lower-cost power as the industry achieves scale.

State leaders also see economic development and job growth as important benefits, and those arent reflected in LCOE either. This is another area where SCC oversight can ensure the greatest public benefit from CVOW. Testimony filed by a Sierra Club expert urges that Dominions economic development plan be revised with specific metrics around the VCEAs goals for diversity, equity and inclusion in the offshore wind workforce. Like reducing pollution, creating jobs for residents from low-income and minority communities adds to CVOWs overall value.

Having criticized the VCEAs overly-generous cost cap myself at the time, I agree with the AGs office that the SCC has to keep a tight watch on expenses as Dominion moves forward with CVOW. But move forward it should, because Virginia needs offshore wind.

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Keep an eye on costs, but Virginia needs offshore wind - Virginia Mercury

LONDON, March 31 (Reuters) - Britain has approved the development of East Anglia One and East Anglia Two offshore wind farms with a combined capacity of 1.7 gigawatts, located in Southwold off the coast of Suffolk in the North Sea, Britain's planning inspectorate said.

Britain has a target to reach net zero emissions by 2050, requiring a huge increase in the amount of renewable power.

The two wind farms are scheduled to be developed by ScottishPower Renewables.

The East Anglia ONE North Offshore Windfarm application was for up to 67 turbines, generators and associated infrastructure, with an installed capacity of up to 800MW, the inspectorate said in a statement.

The application for the East Anglia TWO Offshore Windfarm consisting of up to 75 turbines, generators and associated infrastructure, with an installed capacity of up to 900MW.

Register

Reporting by Marwa Rashad; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Britain gives consent for two offshore wind farms - Reuters UK

Empire Offshore Wind, a joint venture between Equinor and BP, has selected Jacobs for the detail design of New Yorks South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SBMT).

Port upgrades to redevelop SBMT were part of the Empire Wind 2 and Beacon Wind 1 project proposals Equinor and BP submitted in the 2021 offshore wind power solicitation in the State of New York, which selected the two projects in January last year.

Located in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, the facility will serve as an operations and maintenance (O&M) base, as well as a staging and assembly port for wind turbine installation.

The architectural and engineering design services contract includes oversight for the modification of existing bulkheads to strengthen and accommodate heavy lift operations, upland site redevelopment and coordination with ongoing remediation efforts.

The company will also provide design services regarding dredging, a new green O&M facility, new docking facilities for crew transfer and service operation vessels, utility upgrades, as well as permitting and construction support.

A few weeks ago, the New York City Mayor, Eric Adams, announced that the engineering and design of the new SBMT are moving forward after an agreement was finalised between the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), Equinor, its partner BP, and Sustainable South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SSBMT).

The city has committed to investing USD 57 million to support the transformation of SBMT, with construction works expected to begin in the second half of 2023.

Following our recently announced agreement to transform the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, Equinor and bp are moving forward with this next step in realizing our offshore wind hub vision, said Teddy Muhlfelder, acting Vice President Empire Wind and Beacon Wind, Equinor Renewables US.

The contract award will bring direct jobs to the local community, leaning on Jacobs expertise to advance these vital port facilities to support Empire Wind, Beacon Wind and the wider offshore wind industry.

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Equinor-BP Venture Taps Jacobs to Design US Offshore Wind Terminal | Offshore Wind - Offshore WIND

Energy company Eneco and OCI N.V., a global producer and distributor of hydrogen-based products, have joined the NortH2 green hydrogen consortium as collaborative partners.

Eneco is joining the NortH2 consortium of Equinor, RWE, Shell, and Gasunie as an investment partner. Groningen Seaports is a support partner on the project.

OCI, on the other hand, intends to develop the first integrated green ammonia and methanol value chains through large-scale green hydrogen supply by NortH2 to the companys plants in the Netherlands.

NortH2 is a large-scale offshore wind-to-hydrogen electrolysis project being developed in the Eemshaven area, the Netherlands.

The hydrogen will be produced for industrial sectors that are difficult to electrify, or for which hydrogen is a necessary raw material.

NortH2s aim is to have up to 4 GW of electrolysers and matching offshore wind capacity available by 2030.

On a project base, this is estimated to reduce the use of natural gas by around 1.5 billion cubic meters per year. Depending on the application, green hydrogen is expected to lower CO2 emissions by some 2.9 to 3.6 megaton annually.

NortH2 will continue to grow towards the production of 1 million tons of green hydrogen per year by 2040.

NortH2 has recently completed the second phase of the feasibility study, which shows that an integrated approach; from offshore wind farms, production, storage and distribution to ultimately the use of the green hydrogen; is technically and economically feasible. One other requirement is for the government to create the right policy framework, Eneco said.

OCI said that by joining forces with NortH2 the company will be provided with a stable and large-scale supply of green hydrogen which allows it to decarbonize its production processes and meet a growing demand from its customers in the downstream value chain for renewable hydrogen.

With ~50 per cent of current global hydrogen production already used as a feedstock in ammonia and methanol production, the switch to green hydrogen at OCI is technologically straightforward and relatively fast when compared to other sectors, the company said. In addition, OCIs production assets are said to be strategically located and ideally positioned to connect to the NortH2 project and the planned hydrogen pipeline backbone of Gasunie in the Netherlands.

Ahmed El-Hoshy, Chief Executive Officer of OCI N.V., said that the collaboration with the NortH2 consortium is a critical partnership that helps OCI, as a key enabler of the hydrogen economy, activate sustainable value chains for society and industry, create a positive impact on the environment, and simultaneously help reduce the countrys dependence on natural gas by using green hydrogen.

Green ammonia and methanol production is a logical starting point to develop a green economy in the Netherlands and Europe as it creates a wide range of green products helping create sustainable value chains of food, fuels and consumer goods, El-Hoshy said.

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Eneco and OCI Join NortH2 Offshore Wind-to-Hydrogen Consortium | Offshore Wind - Offshore WIND

Kirby Corp. announced today the signing of a commercial agreement for its wholly owned subsidiary, Kirby Offshore Wind, to provide barge transportation services for offshore wind towers and turbines to Maersk Supply Service, which has been selected by Empire Offshore Wind, a joint venture between Equinor and BP, as the installation contractor for the project off the coast of New York. Kirbys contract with Maersk represents a 20-year framework agreement with the Empire Wind projects being the first.

Kirby Offshore Wind will provide the Jones Act compliant feeder barges and tugboats which will transport the wind towers and turbines from the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal to a specialized Maersk wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV).

Kirby will be investing in two new American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) classed feeder barge and diesel-electric hybrid tugboat units which will be constructed in U.S. shipyards for a total combined cost of between $80 million to $100 million. Each feeder barge will have the capacity to transport next-generation turbines of 15 megawatt (MW) and higher as turbine technology advances. The capital investment for the new vessels will be incurred through progress payments over the 2023 to 2025 timeframe. Kirbys offshore marine facility in Staten Island, N.Y., as well as its marine headquarters in Houston will be the base of operations for the companys offshore wind activities.

We are excited to announce Kirbys participation in the offshore wind market through our newest business division, Kirby Offshore Wind, David Grzebinski, Kirbys president and CEO, said in a statement announcing the pact. We have been carefully evaluating opportunities to enter the offshore wind industry for several years, and we are very pleased to partner with world-class operators such as Maersk, Equinor, and BP on a critical foundational project with a multi-year transportation agreement. Kirbys participation in this renewable energy space will not only grow company earnings and returns but will also greatly enhance our ESG product and service offerings in the coming years. Our commitment to build two next-generation feeder barges and emissions friendly diesel-electric hybrid tugboats, which could have the ability to substitute diesel for alternative fuels, is not only important for Kirbys ESG journey, but also for the U.S. maritime sector. These vessels will create new American jobs, both during the construction phase at two U.S. shipyards, as well as for U.S. mariners once operations commence.

Grzebinski did not name the shipyards that will be building the new vessels.

Offshore wind in the U.S. has tremendous potential for significant growth during this decade and beyond, Christian ONeil, Kirbys president of marine transportation, said. As a leading provider of Jones Act compliant barge services in the U.S. coastal trade, Kirbys participation in the development and support of the offshore wind industry is critical to our future. These new vessels will complement the ABS classed Maersk WTIV and support achievement of project efficiency gains.

Maersks wind turbine installation vessel is the first of its kind and will set a new standard for the efficiency of windfarm installations. The efficiency gains are made possible as the installation vessel can stay on location at the wind farm, while only the tugs and barges transport equipment to and from the port. With Kirby Offshore Wind, Maersk has found a solid U.S. partner, who shares the same values and vison to support the development of the U.S. wind market long-term, said Jonas Munch Agerskov, chief commercial officer at Maersk Supply Service.

"ABS and Kirby have a long and proud history of working together, Christopher J. Wiernicki, ABS chairman, president, and CEO, said, We are pleased to be able to support them once again on these vessels with Maersk, as they come together to play an important role in delivering to the U.S. offshore wind market."

Kirby and Maersk expect wind turbine installations and the associated feeder barge services to commence beginning in late 2025 or early 2026 once the construction of Maersks new WTIV is completed.

No specifications for Kirbys new tugs and barges were forthcoming.

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Kirby announces offshore wind partnership with Maersk - WorkBoat

Environmental campaigners and trade unions welcomed plans from the offshore training industry to reduce duplication in certification standards, but pressed for detail on timing and delivery.

It comes as training body OPITO, the Global Wind Organisation (GWO) and the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA), announced this week they would align efforts to identify duplicate training and to create new guidance aimed at enabling workforce mobility.

With the support of RenewableUK and Scottish Renewables, the organisations said they would also map out pathways for decision-makers.

It follows significant pressure from workers and campaign groups to reduce costs and make it easier for workers to move from oil and gas to renewables.

Campaigners including Friends of the Earth Scotland, Platform and RMT Scotland today said these efforts must lead to new standards in the offshore energy sector recognised by all operators.

They called for workers and trade unions to be involved in the process of identifying duplication and demanded a commitment from OPITO and GWO to remove duplication once it has been identified by creating an offshore training passport.

They argue that this system would ensure standards in the offshore energy sector were readily transferable by creating recognition between oil and gas and renewables.

Currently, oil workers say they often have to pay to repeat similar training courses to get jobs in offshore wind a situation unions say is a major barrier to accelerating a just transition for the workforce.

A 2021 survey by the campaigners found that offshore workers paid on average 1,800 a year in training costs. The survey reported that nearly 97% of workers were concerned about training costs and found near complete support for an offshore training passport scheme.

Platforms just transition campaigner Rosemary Harris added that after years of false starts the announcement of collaboration on reducing duplication is certainly a sign of progress.

However, the proof is in the delivery. The minimum we expect is for workers and their trade unions to be involved in identifying shared requirements for work offshore, rather than a focus on the existing training courses, and then creating a system to align these once complete through an Offshore Training Passport, she added.

RMT regional organiser and chair of the Offshore Coordinating Group, Jake Molloy said unions cautiously welcome the news.

Anything which will enable our members to transition around the offshore energy sector without having to pay for training must be considered a good thing.

I say cautiously as the real test for this initiative will be the energy industry embracing this across the oil and gas, wind, maritime and other sectors.

To this end, we will be seeking assurances around the involvement of the Trade Unions and the wider workforce to provide a degree of independent analysis around what constitutes duplication with a view to reaching a collaborative, inclusive agreement. We are also keen to see a clear timeline for delivery of the passport concept.

He also said the full support of governments at Westminster and Holyrood would be welcomed, as it would be tangible and meaningful initiatives like these that deliver on the political rhetoric of a Just Transition.

We will continue to push for the earliest possible adoption of the Offshore Skills and Training Passport, Mr Molloy added.

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Unions and campaigners 'cautiously welcome' offshore training alignment - Energy Voice

There is a really good chance that a massive $5 billion offshore wind farm capable of powering more than a third of New Zealand homes will be built off the west coast of the lower North Island, says the Danish investment fund that is behind the project.

Energy Minister Megan Woods said the Government had been developing regulations for offshore renewable energy schemes and it was fantastic to see that gave the industry the assurance they were looking for to get projects underway.

The NZ Super fund announced on Tuesday that it had established a joint venture with Danish infrastructure fund Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) to investigate building a huge wind farm in the South Taranaki Bight.

Subject to a feasibility study, a wind farm could be built with a total capacity of 1 gigawatt, capable of supplying over 11 per cent of New Zealands current electricity demand capacity, the Super fund said in a statement.

At that size, the Super fund said the wind farm would be able to power more than 650,000 homes.

READ MORE:* Group formed to create offshore wind farms * Taranaki hosts New Zealand's first offshore wind forum* Harnessing offshore wind energy in Taranaki could double national electricity supply

But it said the Super fund and CIP believed the wind farm could later be doubled in size to generate 2GW.

New Zealand had a total electricity generating capacity of just over 9.3GW in 2020, according to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

CIP has invested 16b (NZ$25.5b) in renewable energy schemes worldwide and has been separately investigating building a 2.2GW wind farm off the south coast of Victoria capable of powering 1.3 million Australian homes, after receiving an exploration licence from the Australian government.

Business development manager Giacomo Caleffi said he believed there was a really good chance the New Zealand scheme would eventuate though he said he could not put a percentage figure on it.

The fundamentals of offshore wind generation in the South Taranaki Bight were absolutely amazing because of its high wind speeds and shallow seabed, and it was not seeking government subsidies, he said.

SIMON O'CONNOR/Stuff

Wind farm could eventually supply more than half of NZ homes, investors believe.

A 1GW wind farm there would be capable of generating 4.5 terawatt-hours of power a year, which was a conversion rate close to the best sites in Britains North Sea, he said.

NZ Super fund spokesman Conor Roberts said the fund expected it would take about 10 years to get the approvals for the wind farm and built it, and that it would cost about $5b.

Assuming it was based on current technology, the wind farm would comprise 70 giant 15 megawatt turbines, each measuring 260 metres from sea level to the highest arc of its blades, he said.

The next steps would involve engaging with local businesses, iwi and councils, and gathering environmental data on tides and winds, he said.

Caleffi said CIP envisaged the wind farm would be located at least 23 kilometres out to sea, but would be faintly visible from the coast on a clear day.

One thing we are keen to keep away from is the marine mammal sanctuary. Closer to shore there are some more protected areas.

CIP expected to begin discussions with local communities in the next month or two, he said.

Robyn Edie/Stuff

Energy Minister Megan Woods says investors in offshore wind farms need the regulatory certainty to make large-scale investments.

Woods said there was significant interest from overseas developers in offshore wind farms but the Government needed to get the regulatory settings right and provide prospective developers the certainty they need to make the large-scale investments.

Its exciting to see how this new frontier for renewable energy can help us reach our net-zero emissions goals, as we decarbonise our energy system, she said.

NZ Super fund chief executive Matt Whineray said offshore wind energy had the potential to be an attractive commercial opportunity and aligned with the funds climate change investment strategy.

We are in the unique position of being able to attract best-in-class global partners on infrastructure developments that create positive environmental and social outcomes while delivering financial returns, he said.

While this proposal is still at a very early, exploratory stage, we are confident it could help New Zealands transition away from fossil fuels and towards home-grown clean energy, he said.

Sam Stubbs, chief executive of KiwiSaver fund Simplicity, said he hoped there would be an opportunity for KiwiSaver funds to invest in the project, either before or after its construction.

It is an ideal investment for very long duration KiwiSaver-money. It is certainly the sort of thing we would like to look at, he said.

We have perilously little to invest in domestically in terms of new projects particularly ones that have long-term investment horizons.

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'Really good chance' of $5b offshore wind farm able to supply third of NZ homes - Stuff

Thank you for the question. Converting funds into foreign currency is a good first step toward diversifying your portfolio and derisking against the volatile rand. However, foreign bank accounts are notoriously poor investment vehicles as interest rates on savings accounts are extremely low. For example, a savings account in SA should yield approximately 5% per annum, while those in the UK are likely to yield around 0.75%.

Consequently, there is a need to shift this money into an interest-generating vehicle, which can be done easily. Many South African-based asset managers offer offshore investment structures and have offshore houses based in jurisdictions like Guernsey or Bermuda. These institutions accept deposits in numerous currencies, including USD, GBP, EUR and AUD.

Furthermore, it would be in your interest to consider how offshore investment structures can help from both an estate and tax perspective. When considering tax, a popular offshore investment vehicle is a global endowment. An endowment offers investors with high marginal tax rates the opportunity to invest in a tax-efficient manner. In the case of individuals, income tax and capital gains tax are 30% and 12% respectively. Dividend-withholding tax (DWT) is levied at 20% for individuals.

Comparison of effective tax rates

Another pertinent issue is how these structures can help from an estate duty perspective.

On death, South African residents are liable for estate duty based on their worldwide assets. Estate duty is levied at a rate of 20% on an estate value up to R30 million and at a rate of 25% on a value above R30 million.

Not so commonly known is that on death, both the UK and the US also levy an estate duty on certain situs assets, i.e. assets that are physically situated within their jurisdiction. In the UK, this is known as inheritance tax, while its called estate tax in the US. Collectively, they are known as situs taxes. This is important to note if you have assets in either country.

In the UK, a situs tax of 40% is levied on assets over the value of 325 000. Any amount falling below the 325 000 threshold is known as the nil rate band and is free from situs tax. There is no situs tax levied on assets left to a surviving spouse. Additionally, if the assets are left to the spouse, resulting in the 325 000 exemption remaining unused, the exemption rolls over to the spouse. The spouse will then have a 650 000 exemption on their death.

In the US, the threshold for situs tax is much lower at only $60 000, with the top tax bracket being 40%. In contrast to the UK, the US offers no spousal exemptions or rollovers unless the spouse is a US citizen.

Utilising an offshore endowment removes any potential situs issues relating to an investment in a foreign jurisdiction. Instead, these funds are deemed part of your South African estate, where you will pay estate duty ranging from 20% to 25%.

I trust that I have answered your question and provided you with some guidance for offshore investing. I recommend that you consult a financial advisor who can assist you with your specific requirements and get more information about liquidity, risk profile and tax efficiency.

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I have offshore funds in a foreign bank. How can I invest these offshore? - Moneyweb

The area off Southeastern North Carolina's coast being considered for offshore wind will be divided into two leases when companies bid on the rights to develop the ocean areas 17 nautical miles from Bald Head Island, federal officials announced Friday.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management issued its final sale notice to lease the Wilmington East Wind Energy Area on Friday, set to officially appear in the Federal Registry on Monday.

The move is the penultimate action remaining before the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will select a winner or winners of an auction for the spaces, scheduledMay 11. If developed, the areas could generate up to 1.3 gigawatts, enough to power half a million homes, according to BOEM.

If plans progress, the facilities carry the potential to generate tens of thousands of jobs and billions in economic development opportunities for Southeastern North Carolina, according to the latest estimates.

Stakeholders are preparing to beat thelooming auction timeline with haste, as a moratorium banning new offshore leases, imposed by former President Donald Trump, begins July 1 and lasts through 2032 in an area including Wilmington East.

Under the directive of the Biden administration, BOEM has accelerated offshore wind energy lease opportunities and revived plans for Wilmington East, which had stalled in 2015.

Biden instituted the nations first-ever offshore wind energy goal last March, aiming for 30 gigawatts by 2030 and 110 gigawatts by 2050. Only two offshore wind projects are in operation in the U.S., generating energy that represents less than 1% of Bidens next-decade goal.

This is an historic time for domestic offshore wind energy development, Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said in a release. We will continue using every tool in our toolbox to tackle the climate crisis, reduce our emissions to reach the Presidents bold goals, and advance environmental justice.

Last month, BOEM tentatively awarded six leases at New York Bight, luring the highest offshore lease bids on record, with the companies bidding a combined $4.37 billion for 488,000 acres, or roughly $8,900 an acre.

Wilmington East's final sale notice tweaks several aspects of the potential leasing arrangement first presented for public comment in November.

First, the area has condensed, from roughly 128,000 acres to nearly 110,100 acres. BOEM shaved off acreage closest to shore, extending the beginning barrier from 15 nautical miles to roughly 17 nautical miles. Last summer, several coastalgovernments in Brunswick County asked BOEM to impose a 24-nautical-mile setback to protect viewshed impacts. In January, the Southeastern Wind Coalition released visualizations of a full-build-out scenario at 15 nautical miles from shore that showed the turbines would not be visible from shore to the unassisted human eye.

Second, two leases are being offered. Leading up to Fridays decision, BOEM considered one to three leases and sought comment from stakeholders on this and other leasing arrangements.

A consortium of the worlds most active and prolific offshore wind energy companies have already indicated their interest in vying for the right to study the spaces viability. In comments submitted earlier this year to BOEM, some corporations said they preferred a single lease, as it would reduce redundant infrastructure requirements and provide flexibility within the space. Others argued more than one space would encourage competition and keep energy prices fair.

Having two lease areas means more economic benefit for the state through additional competition, development flexibility, and multiple players in the space, Katharine Kollins, president of the Southeastern Wind Coalition, said in a statement Friday. Additional lease provisions will drive incentive for localized supply chain and workforce development, allowing North Carolina the ability to take advantage of the $100B at our doorstep.

In addition to thefederal push for clean wind energy, the state has imposed its own ambitious goals to curb carbon emissions. In June, Gov. Roy Cooper set a wind energy goal of 2.8 gigawatts by 2030, and in October, he signed House Bill 951, which could lead to a 70% reduction of 2005-level emissions by then. The bill tasks theN.C. State Utilities Commission with approving a plan to achieve this reorientation, which could involve a customer rate increase.

Duke Energy has committed to meeting the state's and its own 2050 net-zero target. The state's largest energy producer is in the midst of studying how it will achieve these goals, with offshore wind being one potential strategy. "As we continue to evaluate the potential for offshore wind in the Carolinas, we have taken preliminary steps to maintain our optionality by becoming a qualified bidder to participate in the Wilmington East ... lease area auction," Duke Energy spokeswoman Jennifer Garber wrote in an email Friday.

Congressman David Rouzer, R-07, said the development of wind energy in Wilmington East will provide "an economic shot in the arm for many communities that desperately need it." In a statement, Rouzer said he was pleased with BOEM's reductionof the leasing area in light of viewshed concerns an issue he personally urged BOEM officials to consider in writing and in a meeting last summer.

He also saidit is critical for America to be energy dominant in oil, natural gas and renewables as highlighted by the Russian war on Ukraine. Last April, Rouzer was among six other members of Congress to urge BOEM to lease wind areas in advance of Trump's moratorium, which poses a "critical threat to our ability to develop this resource," their letter states.

Companies can bid on one or both leases, with each area about 55,000 acres. Both areas have similar wind resource potential, according to BOEM.

BOEM is offering a 20% credit to bidders that commit to investing in workforce training or supply chain development programs. This commitment is being incentivized to support the rapid progress required to allow for the greatest amount of domestic prosperity in a nascent industry. Lessees will also be required to report engagement with stakeholders, including underserved communities and ocean users, to promote a cohesive use of the area.

The final notice identifies 16 companies as legally, technically, and financially qualified to hold a lease at Wilmington East. This includes:

547 Energy LLC

Arevia Power LLC

Avangrid Renewables, LLC

BP US Offshore Wind Energy LLC

Invenergy Long Bay Offshore LLC

Carolina Offshore Wind LLC

Duke Energy Renewables Wind, LLC

EDF Renewables Development, Inc.

JERA Renewables NA, LLC

Masdar Offshore Wind Americas LLC

MRP Offshore Wind Farm LLC

Orsted North America Inc.

OW North America Ventures LLC

RWE Offshore Wind Holdings, LLC

Shell New Energies US LLC

TotalEnergies Renewables USA, LLC

Should any of the companies choose to participate in the auction, they must indicate their interest to BOEM by April 11 and submit a $2 million deposit by April 25.

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Two offshore wind leases to be auctioned for Wilmington East - Greater Wilmington Business Journal

Centricas 49MW Roosecote battery storage project, commissioned in 2018 in Cumbria, northeast England. Image: Centrica.

Centrica Business Solutions has acquired a 30MW fully consented battery energy storage project in Scotland, UK, which will help manage North Sea offshore wind farms.

The two-hour duration (60MWh) battery storage plant in Dyce, near Aberdeen, was developed by Cragside Energy Limited and backed by Omni Partners LLP.

It obtained planning consent in November 2021, and currently has a go-live date of mid-2024. Construction is expected to last eight months, and be aligned with its grid connection date.

As the offshore wind sector continues to grow in the UK with research from trade association RenewableUK this week showing there is now a pipeline of 86GW of offshore wind projects, more than eight times the current operational capacity there is an increasing need to manage network constraints.

National Grid paid 244 million (US$321.7 million) to wind farm operators to curtail generation in 2021, for example. Battery storage could help avoid such a cost, storing energy when the network is constrained and releasing it when generation is less abundant or demand higher.

To read the full version of this story visit Current.

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Centrica's 60MWh battery project near Scottish coast will help integrate offshore wind - Energy Storage News