Category Archives: Offshore

The future Bokalift 2, formerly the drillship Yan (image courtesy Boskalis)

PublishedNov 15, 2021 2:19 PM by The Maritime Executive

Dutch heavy lift operator Boskalis has secured awind farm foundation installation charter worth more than $500 million, demonstrating the earnings potential inthe booming offshore wind space.

The contract covers all transportation and installation of the monopile foundations and substations for an unnamed offshore wind farm development, and it will make use of two specialized heavy lift crane ships.Boskalis did not specify the developer or the region, but monopiles are frequently used in the shallow waters of theEuropean offshore wind sector.

Both vessels are heavily-modified conversions, though the base vessel and form factor are quite different. Bokalift 1 (ex name Finesse) is a former heavy-lift semisubmersible ship with a low working deck aft of the pilothouse. Bokalift 2 is a former drillship (ex name Yan), and she is having her derrick removed and her hull widened with the addition of sponsons. Both vessels are DP2-rated for stationkeeping, and both have been fitted with ultra-high-capacity cranes - a 3,000-tonne model for Bokalift 1 and a 4,000-tonne crane for Bokalift 2.

Conversion work on Bokalift 2 is now under way at Drydocks World in Dubai. Boskalis has reported that the new vessel's first charter will be in support of its contract for jacket installation at the Changfang and Xidao wind farm project off the coast of Taiwan. The company began early work on that project in July 2021, and the developer is expected to begin commercial operations of the wind farmin 2024.

Boskalis' newly-announced $500 million contract for monopile installation will tie up one full ship-year of crane vessel utilization days, in addition to the equivalent of two ship-years of heavy transport vessel operation. Engineering and pre-construction work has already begun, and the work is scheduled to begin in 2023.

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Boskalis Wins $500 Million Contract for Offshore Wind Installation - The Maritime Executive

Virginia utility Dominion Energy awarded five large construction contracts for its proposed 2.6-GW offshore wind energy project, set to be the largest in the U.S. when built, with its CEO reporting that project size limited the ability of a EPC single contractor to provide needed financial assurance.

In a quarterly earnings call with investors, firm President and CEO Robert Blue also reported cost for the 176-turbine project now is $9.8 billion, up $2 billion from the original estimated cost in 2019 due to price hikes in steel and other key commodities, design refinement and offshore to onshore power transmission route changes.

Dominion has gained key project insights from operation of a two-turbine pilot farm completed last year about 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach, near the larger facilitys planned 112,800-acre site.

The utility selected Denmark-based Ramboll in 2020 as owners engineer to support project development and engineering.

In a Nov. 5 filing to state regulators, Dominion said construction will be managed in five contracted packages that cover about 86% of project costs. The utility previously said the project will be built under a project labor agreement.

DEME Offshore US, a Boston unit of a Belgian energy sector firm, and the South Carolina arm of Milan, Italy-based Prysmian Cables and Systems, a leading global installer of underwater energy cable systems, will provide the balance of plant engineering, procurement, transportation and installation.

The contract value is $1.9 billion, DEME Offshore announced, describing it as the largest offshore wind installation contract ever awarded in the U.S.

"This significant contract will allow us to further build out our US footprint, working with key partners and the local supply chain to grow jobs," said Sid Florey, DEME Offshore US president. We are pleased to continue supporting the growth of the U.S. offshore wind industry and demonstrating DEMEs commitment to this growing market.

The firm also won a similar type of contract for the Vineyard 1 offshore wind project off Massachusetts, now under construction, and one for cable installation for the South Fork project off Long Island, N.Y., both set for completion in 2023.

Europe-based manufacturer Siemens Gamesa has the contract to supply, install and commission turbines that produce 14.7 MW each. A joint venture of Denmark-based Bladt Industries and SEMCO Maritime Renewables will build three 800-MW offshore substations.

Germany-based EEW Special Pipe Construction received the contract for 176 monopile foundations, which will require 200,000 tons of steel to fabricate. EEW is a partner in construction of a $250-million monopile manufacturing plant in New Jersey, but said the Virginia foundations will be manufactured in Germany. It said the Virginia contract is another step to participate in the energy transition in America.

Bladt also will supply 176 transition pieces that connect monopile foundations to the wind turbine tower. The order is the largest in our history and will occupy a significant part of our capacity in the coming years, CEOAnders Se-Jensen said. Transition pieces are up to 30 meters tall and about 8 m in diameter. Each weighs between 540 and 570 tons, Bladt says.

Contact values for the other awards were not disclosed.

Monopile foundations, transition pieces and turbine components will be staged at the Portsmouth Marine Terminal as part of a previously announced 10-year lease with the Virginia Port Authority.

The project is the only one in the U.S. that is utility owned, but Blue said upgraded power production capacity will limit cost impacts to ratepayers. He said long-term project costs to customers will be $87/MWh, below the top range of a previous cost figure. Blue projected further cost cuts from expected congressional passage of offshore wind tax credits.

The cost also is less than the $125/MWh maximum set under Virginias 2020 Clean Economy Act. The state law sets a goal of producing at least 5.2 GW of offshore wind energy by 2034 and a target by 2045 for 100% carbon-free energy production in the state. It requires that clean energy construction begin by 2024. The Dominion project is set to begin work in 2023.

Blue said cost of wind farm turbines, monopiles, transition pieces, offshore substations, as well as transport and installation, total about $6.9 billion, with $1.4 billion for onshore transmission, substations and upgrades, and $1.5 billion for "other project costs and contingency." Dominion leads a consortium to build a $500-million offshore wind turbine installation vessel, now under construction at a Brownsville, Texas shipyard.

The wind farm cost hike includes a 4% increase in offshore costs and a $1 billion hike in onshore construction costs, said Blue. They relate to changes in the original transmission route to minimize effects on surrounding communities, including historic resources and environmental justice considerations, he said. The project includes $1.5 billion of onshore construction and $500 million of currency hedging for contracts awarded in Euros and Danish Krone.

The timing of the Virginia offshore wind commercial project is designed to lock in scarce manufacturing and transportation slots, Mark Mitchell, Dominion senior vice president of project construction said in testimony submitted to state regulators. More than 1,500 offshore turbines are in planning or development stages from North Carolina to Massachusetts on 17 federally leased areas, he said. The industry is truly taking off. The Biden Administration targets 30 GW of offshore wind deployed by 2030, with recent lease site expansion announced .

After the Nov. 2 election that flipped the Virginia House of Delegates to Republican control, Rep. Todd Gilbert, who is running to be speaker of the house, said a top focus will be rolling back climate change legislation that he claims increases costs to ratepayers by incentivizing wind and solar generation.

Republican Gov. elect Glenn Youngkin, a former executive of project finance firm Carlyle Group, said he is not opposed to wind and solar energy projects, but remains concerned about the cost impact and speed of the energy transition and its impact on natural gas as a fuel source. Youngkin is described as very smart and common sense by a knowledgeable industry source, with a solid background in infrastructure finance.

Dominions Blue said Virginia regulators generally support the companys clean energy plans.

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Giant Virginia Offshore Wind Project Makes Five Key Construction Awards - Engineering News-Record

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas Wind. It may bother you on a good hair day, but the Biden administration believes the country should be doing more to harness its energy.

While wind farms have been popping up in more rural areas for years, President Joe Biden would like to see more of them off America's coasts.

BIDEN'S OFFSHORE PLAN

In January, President Biden signed executive orders calling for the doubling of offshore wind turbine production by 2030.

Last month, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced plans to hold seven lease sales by 2025, so companies can buy access to waters off Americas coasts.

Here is a map of all the places more wind turbines are expected in the coming years. The plans stretch from New England to the Gulf of Mexico.

CHALLENGES AHEAD

However, when you actually visit some of the windiest beaches in our country, you realize offshore wind can get complicated.

James Klein with the Sierra Club of South Texas loves the idea of more wind turbines, especially in windy areas like Corpus Christi, but he says you can't just build them anywhere.

"I dont know if you heard this or not, but Corpus Christi calls itself 'the birdiest city in the country,'" Klein said.

Klein worries about birds that travel through the corridor each year. He doesnt like the idea of a turbines blade getting in their way.

"We want to make sure that wherever these wind turbines are placed on the gulf, they are not going to interfere with migratory patterns of birds," Klein said.

For the non-environmentalists on the stretch of sand, a changing view doesnt bother them.

Rodney Starr has other concerns.

"I dont think that'd be too smart 'cause there are a lot of hurricanes. Theyd wipe these things out, I believe, Starr said.

Starr and Klein's viewpoints are part of the challenges that the Biden administration is only beginning to encounter as their wind ambitions grow.

Congress continues to debate a spending plan that would encourage more companies to take on wind projects in the ocean. Its still unclear how much of an interest exists, especially having to navigate birds, storms, and not to mention ships.

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The challenges of President Biden's offshore wind plan - The Denver Channel

Avangrid Renewables plans to build an Offshore Wind Control Center in New Bedford, Massachusetts, as part of the Commonwealth Wind project proposal, the offshore wind project developer Vineyard Wind, a joint venture between Avangrid Renewables and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), informed on 10 November.

The development of the centre is contingent on Commonwealth Wind being selected by the state in the most recent round of solicitation for offshore wind energy, Vineyard Wind said.

Commonwealth Wind is a newly proposed offshore wind project submitted to Massachusetts third competitive offshore wind solicitation, proposed to be developed in an area 22 miles (around 35 kilometres) south of Marthas Vineyard. The project could have up to 1,200 MW of capacity, which is enough to power 750,000 homes in Massachusetts and create over 11,000 jobs (FTE).

From the recently announced partnership with Semco Maritime to the establishment of this control center, the City of New Bedford is increasingly becoming a crucial part of this industrys DNA. If the Commonwealth Wind proposal is selected by the state, this facility will create jobs that will last a generation or more, creating opportunities for people that can help families build a better life, said Vineyard Wind CEO Lars T. Pedersen.

The facility, planned to become operational in 2024, is modeled on the work of Avangrid Renewables National Control Center for onshore renewable assets, and would be a state-of-the-art facility that will provide remote control for the turbines, electrical service platforms and other offshore/onshore assets throughout the projects 25-year lifespan, according to the developer.

The centre will also serve as a hub for coordination between operations and maintenance (O&M) vessels and organisations like the United States Coast Guard, in addition to being an interface for working with regional transmission organizations like ISO-NE.

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US Developer Plans to Build Offshore Wind Control Centre in New Bedford | Offshore Wind - Offshore WIND

The Netherlands plans to develop additional 10.7 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030 in order to meet the EUs current goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 55 per cent by 2030 compared to the 1990 levels.

The Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management has now issued the Additional Draft North Sea Programme 2022 2027 which increases the countrys offshore wind target from the current 11.5 GW to 22.2 GW of operating offshore wind capacity by 2030.

The Additional Draft North Sea Programme 2022 2027 designates wind farm zones in the North Sea in the context of the current climate targets for 2030 and the EUs ambition to tighten them, with a view to reducing CO2 emissions to 55 per cent of 1990 levels by 2030. The Netherlands current CO2 reduction target is 49 per cent by 2030 compared to the 1990 levels.

The Additional Draft North Sea Programme 2022 2027 replaces chapter 9 of the Draft North Sea Programme 2022 2027, which was available for inspection from March to September 2021 as an appendix to the Draft National Water Programme 2022 2027.

While the Draft North Sea Programme determined the search areas for offshore wind energy (eight areas in total), the Additional Draft North Sea Programme designates some of these search areas as offshore wind farm zones, the Ministry said.

According to the Additional Draft, the new offshore wind capacity would be developed within the newly designated, as well as the existing zones.

The newly designated zones1,2, and 5 East would accommodate 8 GW of offshore wind capacity, the IJmuiden Ver North 2 GW, and the remaining 700 MW zone was identified within the southern part of Hollandse Kust (west) area.

The Ministry opened a public comment period for the Additional Draft North Sea Programme 2022 2027 and the accompanying Environmental Impact Statement on 9 November. Interested parties can share their feedback on the presented plans and the documents provided by 20 December.

The Additional Draft North Sea Programme 2022 2027 is expected to be adopted in March 2022 as part of the North Sea Programme 2022 2027, which is appended to the National Water Programme 2022 2027.

Once the North Sea Programme has been adopted, it will be revised once again to determine offshore wind zones to be developed after 2030. The Netherlands expects that the country will need at least 38 GW of operating offshore wind capacity to reach the climate-neutral status by 2050. This implies that the Dutch government plans to develop a minimum of 16 GW of offshore wind capacity between 2030 and 2050.

Link:

The Netherlands Plans to Nearly Double 2030 Offshore Wind Target | Offshore Wind - Offshore WIND

11 November 2021

Winston & Strawn LLP

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On November 9, 2021, U.S. Customs And Border Protection MadePublic A Ruling Dated November 2 Regarding The LayingAnd Burial By A Foreign Vessel Of Fiber Optic Cable In U.S. WatersAnd The Transportation Of Technicians By That Vessel. The RulingWould Apply Equally To The Laying And Burial Of Power Cable AndFurthers Substantially The Understanding Of What Operations AForeign Vessel May Undertake In U.S. Waters.

CBP Has Long Held That A Foreign Vessel May Pick Up Pipe OrCable In A U.S. Port And Lay It From That Point To Another Point InThe United States Or Otherwise Between Two U.S. Points. TheRationale Is That The Laying Of Pipe Or Cable Is Not The&Ldquo;Transportation&Rdquo; Of&Ldquo;Merchandise&Rdquo; Between Two U.S. Points Which IsProscribed By U.S. Coastwise Law Known As The &Ldquo;Jones Act.&Rdquo; This Holding WasAffirmed In The November 2 Ruling.

More Importantly, U.S. Law Also Restricts&Ldquo;Dredging&Rdquo; In U.S. Waters To QualifiedU.S.-Flag Vessels. &Ldquo;Dredging&Rdquo; Generally Means&Ldquo;Excavation&Rdquo; Which Is Turn CBP Defines To Mean&Ldquo;Hollow Out&Rdquo; Or &Ldquo;To Remove Soil ByDigging, Scooping Out Or Other Means.&Rdquo; U.S. Waters MeansU.S. Territorial Waters Which Extend Three Nautical Miles From TheU.S. Coast And Beyond On The U.S. Outer Continental Shelf If TheLaying Of Cable Or Pipe Is Related To The Exploration, Development,Or Production Of &Ldquo;Resources&Rdquo; Which IncludesRenewable Energy Resources (As Of January 1, 2021).

The Requester Proposed Utilizing A Proprietary Self-PropelledCable Burial Tool To Simultaneously Lay The Cable And Bury It In ANarrow Trench In U.S. Territorial Waters. The Tool Is Equipped WithWater Jets And Jetting Nozzles To Fluidize The Soil And Utilizes ACutting Wheel Or Digging Chain To Cut Through Hard Sediment AndRock. Consistent With A Few Prior Rulings, CBP Ruled That The UseOf This Cable Burial Tool Did Not Constitute&Ldquo;Dredging&Rdquo; Within The Meaning Of The LawBecause It Would Not Use A Mechanical Hoe Or Plow.

The Requester Also Asked CBP To Confirm That The Foreign VesselCould Pick Up A Few Technicians In A U.S. Port And Either ReturnThem To The Same U.S. Port Or To A Canadian Port At The End Of TheVessel&Rsquo;S Operational Program. U.S. Law Restricts TheTransportation Of &Ldquo;Passengers&Rdquo; Between Two U.S.Points To Qualified U.S.-Flag Vessels. CBP Determined On November 2That The Technicians Were Not &Ldquo;Passengers&Rdquo; InThat &Ldquo;They Are Required To Be Onboard To Contribute ToThe Accomplishment Of The Operation Or Navigation Of The VesselDuring The Voyage Or Are Onboard Because Of A Necessary VesselOwnership Or Business Interest During The Voyage.&Rdquo;Therefore, The Foreign Vessel Could Lawfully Take On TheTechnicians At One U.S. Port And Later Deliver Them To A DifferentU.S. Port.

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US Customs Issues Cable Operation Ruling Helpful To Offshore Wind - Transport - United States - Mondaq News Alerts

UK seabed landlord the Crown Estate has confirmed it wants to unlock up to 4GW of floating offshore wind capacity in the Celtic Sea off the south-western coasts of England and Wales.

It will focus on two project categories: early-commercial scale projects of 300-350MW, and full-commercial scale projects of up to 1GW.

The regulator expects to award leasing rights by the end of 2023 ahead of projects being commissioned from 2030.

Plans for the leasing round were first announced in March.

The goal is to power homes with clean energy while creating opportunities for significant new investment in jobs, skills and infrastructure, the Crown Estate explained.

Floating wind technology offers a powerful opportunity to open up the renewable energy resources of the Celtic Sea, helping to tackle the climate crisis with additional clean power and ignite a new industrial sector, said Huub den Rooijen, managing director of marine at the Crown Estate.

It aims to roll out the process at a pace and scale that will enable supply chain and infrastructure development while benefiting the local area and the wider country, it stated.

The Crown Estate will conduct an integrated spatial design and habitats regulations assessment (HRA) ahead of the market tender. Identifying key environmental issues at the earliest opportunity will help to de-risk investment, minimise environmental risk, and streamline the overall programme, it explained.

A trio of projects approved earlier this year will form part of the HRA assessment.

Early involvement with stakeholders such as the electricity system operator to support a coordinated grid solution for floating wind projects will help accelerate grid development and mitigate impacts on communities onshore.

This announcement further reinforces the critical role floating wind will play in achieving the scale of installed capacity which will be required to deliver a cost-effective net zero, said Dan McGrail, chief executive of industry body RenewableUK.

It is a huge economic opportunity as well as an industrial challenge, requiring short and longer-term enabling actions ahead of the arrival of the first large-scale projects to ensure the UK capitalises fully on first mover advantage, he added.

Crown Estate engagement with market and stakeholders on the floating wind programme will take place in two phases over the winter of 2021/22.

Phase one of this engagement will focus on the spatial design, gathering data and evidence to help inform the location of project sites.

Phase two will invite views on the design of the market tender and the wider considerations of the programme, including on supply chain, ports and grid, as well as community benefits, such as skills and employment.

Original post:

UK plans leasing process for up to 4GW of floating offshore wind in Celtic Sea - Windpower Monthly

The US offshore wind industry has roundly lauded the passage through Congress of the $1trn Bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs bill into law as a major victory for the environment and the administration amid domestic political turmoil and the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland.

But sector bodies at the same time urged Washington to now move swiftly to finish the job by voting through the more expansive $1.75trn Build Back Better (BBB) bill that would give a significant uplift to the offshore wind industrys first wave of plant build-out.

The infrastructure package passed on 5 November provides up to $50bn for climate change resilience and clean power initiatives, as well as $65bn for transmission infrastructure upgrades and $17bn for port upgrades, both seen as crucial to the success of the US offshore wind sector which is targeting 30GW of plant by 2030 but faces grid and port infrastructure bottlenecks that could hamper the build-out.

The bipartisan infrastructure deal is an historic down-payment on ensuring that future generations have clean air, drinkable water, fertile soil, and an overall quality of life that is currently threatened by the worsening climate crisis, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland said in a statement.

The Interior Department stands ready to implement this transformational investment in our country as quickly as possible. The Department of the Interior oversees the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, which manages development on the US Outer Continental Shelf, including leases for offshore wind projects.

The bills passage, said the American Council on Renewable Energy, represents tangible progress on the infrastructure and climate agenda in Washington, DC... [as it] contains important new policies and federal investments that will accelerate the large-scale transmission we need to build a modern and decarbonised grid.

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The legislation earmarks $17bn for port infrastructure and waterways to address repair and maintenance backlogs, reduce congestion and emissions, and drive electrification and other low-carbon technologies, according to a statement released by the White House.

State mandates and a committed project pipeline point to as much as 12GW of offshore wind capacity installed by 2025, but only a fraction of the necessary port marshalling infrastructure is on track for this scale of deployment.

As of now, all current and planned US marshalling ports equal half of projected area demand, noted University of Delaware researcher Sara Parkison, presenting at the recent American Clean Power (ACP) Offshore Windpower conference.

Erik Milito, president of the offshore industry advocacy body the National Ocean Industries Association, called the bipartisan infrastructure deal a milestone that will support the ascendant American offshore wind opportunity.

Access to the capital will help ports invest and improve their operational capabilities in support of American offshore wind and the generational opportunity it provides, he said, noting that the new law nearly doubles the Department of Transportations Port Infrastructure Development Program every year for the next five years, from 2021s $230m to $450m through 2026.

Developing our ports and other infrastructure will help the US maximise the economic and environmental benefits from offshore energy, specifically offshore wind, Milito added.

The new infrastructure law includes funds for grid reliability and resiliency and support for a so-called grid deployment authority, as well as for critical minerals and supply chains for clean energy technologies including carbon capture, hydrogen, direct air capture, and energy efficiency, and energy demonstration projects, according to the 129-page summary of the law released by Congress.

While the offshore wind sector cheered the passage of the act, it is the $1.75trn BBB bill is now the key priority, given that it would double current funding for clean energy and climate change mitigation to $550bn, and is seen as directly targeting the needs of the fast-emerging sector, particularly in supply chain and port development.

On the same day that Congress passed the bipartisan infrastructure bill, the House set administrative rules enabling a vote on the BBB, although it declined to vote directly on the bill until further evaluation of its long-term impacts on US debt by the bipartisan congressional budget office. The BBB is set for a vote of no later than 20 November.

The BBB Act investment in infrastructure will continue the rapid growth of job creating clean energy projects and help meet our emissions reduction targets, said Heather Zichal, CEO of ACP.

The BBB includes mission critical investments in US offshore wind manufacturing, port investment, and expanded transmission funding, highlighted Liz Burdock, CEO of business development body the Business Network for Offshore Wind, in a statement.

To create a local supply chain that will grow jobs and compete on the global stage, Congress must finish the job, she said.

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US offshore wind cheers $1trn infrastructure package but urges speed on 'build back better' bill | Recharge - Recharge

November 11, 2021

Credit: MMA Offshore

Australian offshore services firm MMA Offshore has acquired 49.9% of the shares in the Taiwanese survey company Global Aqua Survey Ltd to form a new joint venture, the MMA Global Aqua JV, which will target the quickly growing offshore wind sector in Taiwan.

Global Aqua Survey Ltd (GAS) is a Taiwanese survey company, founded in 2003 with experience in supporting the offshore wind sector in Taiwan.

The MMA Global Aqua JV will combine GAS local footprint, track record, and experience with MMAs vessels, marine, and subsea expertise to grow the combined service offering to the Taiwanese offshore wind market, the company said.

The MMA Global Aqua JV provides MMA with a local platform through which it can expand its presence in Taiwan whilst giving GAS access to a fleet of vessels and other non-survey capabilities including engineering, diving, stabilization, ROV and inspection expertise.

MMAs Managing Director, David Ross, said: "The MMA Global Aqua JV is an important step in MMAs offshore wind strategy. With cabotage and local ownership becoming increasingly important in the Taiwanese market, the MMA Global Aqua JV will provide us with a local platform from which to grow our offshore wind business. Global Aqua Survey is a strong partner with an excellent reputation and we look forward to working with them to deliver services to the rapidly growing offshore wind sector in Taiwan.

Global Aqua Surveys Managing Director, Gwo-Shyh Song, said: "We are delighted to join forces with MMA and look forward to utilizing GAS local contacts and experience combined with MMAs global capability and asset base to grow our services to the Taiwanese offshore wind sector.

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MMA Offshore Buys Stake in Taiwanese Survey Firm GAS to Target Offshore Wind Work - Offshore Engineer

These proposals are contained in bids submitted to the Crown Estate Scotland through its ScotWind offshore wind leasing round, and could provide more than 8.5GW of clean, renewable electricity.

rsteds proposed investment would also help drive the growth of a world-class Scottish supply chain. In the past five years alone, we have placed major contracts with nearly 100 UK suppliers, with many hundreds more supported in the wider supply chain.

We have also worked with more than 30 UK-based companies to export their goods and services to support rsteds global offshore wind farm portfolio, including Scottish firms working on projects in Taiwan, Germany and the US.

Scotland is particularly well placed to benefit from floating projects due to its expertise in subsea engineering and deep-water operations.

rsted is committed to work with Scottish ports and suppliers to develop infrastructure and a supply chain that will enable Scotland to establish itself as a leading player in the global offshore wind market.

We have seen the positive, transformative impact of our offshore wind development all over the world, creating new jobs and skills that leave a lasting legacy, and investing in local supply chains to help build their capabilities and open access to opportunities on rsted projects.

For example, in Taiwan, our team has been working closely with Taiwanese businesses to drive local supply chain development and provide support for these businesses to compete successfully in the offshore wind market.

In 2018, rsted signed contracts with three new local suppliers Century Wind Power, Formosa Heavy Industries Corporation, and China Shipbuilding Corporation to provide pin piles for our Greater Changhua offshore wind farms. Each pin pile is nearly four metres in diameter, weighs approximately 400 tons and is about 80-90 metres long equivalent to the height of a 30-storey building. Despite their size, the manufacturing tolerance is only a few millimetres, so it can be quite a challenge for firms with no offshore wind manufacturing experience to achieve the technical requirements.

We signed contracts with our local suppliers early to allow sufficient lead time for them to properly prepare to fabricate the pin piles. rsted also provided a package of support, designed to shorten their learning curve, help them ramp up their welding competence and adopt international standards to allow them to grow and compete for future offshore wind projects.

In the US, our 2.4GW Mid Atlantic cluster has been the catalyst for the construction of the first offshore wind manufacturing facility for monopiles in the country. Work began earlier this year on a 70-acre site in New Jersey which will create a significant long-term boost for the states economy, creating hundreds of jobs and positioning it as the supply chain hub of the American offshore wind industry.

Through UK projects, rsted has helped establish Grimsby and the Humber area as a global leader in offshore wind, and this success can be replicated in Scotland.

As the global offshore wind industry awaits the development of commercial-scale floating offshore wind, Scottish firms are strongly positioned to benefit and cement Scotlands world-leading position in this exciting new technology.

- Duncan Clark is rsteds head of UK region

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Duncan Clark: Scotland could become a leading player in global offshore wind - The Scotsman