Energy

The Biden-Harris administration announced on March 26, 2024, the Department of the Interior’s approval of the Sunrise Wind offshore wind project—the nation’s seventh approval of a commercial-scale offshore wind project under President Biden’s leadership. These seven projects have the potential to provide more than 8 gigawatts of clean, renewable energy to power roughly three million homes, and support the Administration’s goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy capacity by 2030.

Independent engineering consultancy, SLPE, is thrilled to witness the realization of its offshore substation (OSS) substructure design as both the substructure and platform for Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm begin to take shape, representing visible progress for this significant Scottish project.

UK ocean engineering specialist Tadek has delivered a sector-leading study assessing through-life performance of Tension Leg Platforms (TLP) compared to Semi-Submersible alternatives for Floating Offshore Wind Turbines (FOWT).

Rem Offshore and Myklebust Verft have signed a contract for the construction of an Energy Subsea Construction Vessel (ESCV) with a 250-ton crane. The vessel will be delivered in 2026 and will be the first of its kind that can perform heavy construction work in both offshore wind and subsea with net zero emissions. The contract also contains an option to build one more vessel.

The US Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released guidance that provides additional information about the bonus under the Inflation Reduction Act for clean energy projects and facilities located in communities that have historically powered our nation. This bonus is equipping energy communities to harness the economic benefits of the clean energy boom by creating good clean energy jobs and lowering energy costs.

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

Ocean Harvesting Technologies AB has been developing the wave energy converter InfinityWEC since 2017. During 2023 and early 2024, focus has been on the ball screw actuation system in the power take-off and refining simulation models for generation six of the technology.

On March 21, 2024, the US Department of Energy's (DOE) Wind Energies Technologies Office (WETO) announced plans to invest $5.1 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in research and technology development to advance modeling and analysis for next-generation offshore wind turbine blades.

Ocean Winds (OW), the international company dedicated to offshore wind energy and created as a 50-50 joint venture by EDP Renewables and ENGIE, has acquired full ownership of the SouthCoast Wind project off the coast of Massachusetts in the United States.

The Department of the Interior announces its proposal for a second offshore wind energy auction in the Gulf of Mexico. The proposed lease sale includes four areas offshore Louisiana and Texas, totaling 410,060 acres, which have the potential to power 1.2 million homes.

Dril-Quip, Inc., a leading developer, manufacturer and provider of highly engineered equipment and services for the global offshore and onshore oil and gas industry, and Innovex Downhole Solutions, Inc. (Innovex), a global leading provider of mission-critical technologies and services across the well lifecycle for the oil and gas industry, announced a definitive agreement under which Dril-Quip and Innovex will merge in an all-stock transaction to create a unique energy industrial platform. Upon closing of the transaction, Dril-Quip stockholders will own approximately 52% and Innovex stockholders will own approximately 48% of the combined company on a fully diluted basis.

In support of the Biden-Harris administration’s goals for deploying 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind energy capacity by 2030 and 15 GW of floating offshore wind energy capacity by 2035, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced it finalized its designation of a Wind Energy Area (WEA) in the Gulf of Maine. The Final WEA has the potential to support generation of 32 GW of clean energy, surpassing current state goals for offshore wind energy in the Gulf of Maine: 10 GW for Massachusetts and 3 GW for Maine.