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38 SUSTAINABILITY SPECIAL 39

Offshore wind: an years, in particular, have seen a was 3 megawatts. At the time of
industry built on European massive increase in installation writing, 8.25 megawatt turbines are
foundations and commissioning of new wind currently in use at the UK’s Walney
It is fair to say that the offshore farms. The most important trends Extension wind farm.
WIND OF CHANGE: wind industry has its roots firmly experienced in the industry are that In the future, it is expected that
offshore wind farms are getting
planted in Europe. The UK, Germany,
Denmark and the Netherlands hold
bigger (in terms of number of
turbine manufacturer MHI Vestas will
OFFSHORERENEWABLES the top four positions with respect turbines) and farther out to sea in double digit offshore wind turbine)
have its 10 megawatt (the world’s first
deeper and rougher waters.
to installed generation capacity in
ready for installation in 2021.
the world. For example, there are
IN AMERICA currently more than 4,300 offshore Additionally, the turbines themselves
wind turbines with a combined
are increasing in power generation
capacity. Ten years ago the typical
capacity of 16 gigawatts installed
in European waters. The last five capacity for an offshore wind turbine
Electricity production in the United States HOW DO YOU SEE THE AMERICAN OFFSHORE WIND
still relies heavily on non-renewable energy SECTOR DEVELOPING?
sources. Fossil fuels and nuclear power David: It is a market that is showing slow but steady growth.
generate more than 80% of the country’s What is relevant here is that the American market can look
total energy needs. Renewable energy at advances in the European market and supply chain. This
sources do contribute to the US market, but means that the American offshore wind market will not have
to undergo the steep learning curve that we experienced
at rates hovering just above the 17% mark. It in Europe. They will have the advantage of multiple lessons
must be noted that this relatively low figure learned. The issue of local content is a point that cannot be
masks the enormous potential of renewable ignored, though – all vessels will need to be built locally.
energy in America. Considering the fact
that there is currently only one offshore YES, THE JONES ACT – WHAT IMPACT WILL THAT HAVE?
wind farm in operation in US waters (the 30 David: The Jones Act will be one of the first things
megawatts Block Island off the Rhode Island developers have to deal with. A crucial fact, however, is that
there are no existing vessels that match the requirements.
coast), offshore wind is a perfect example Therefore the diverse range of vessels needed for the
for such growth. numerous phases of an offshore wind farm all have to be
built. This situation is complicated even further because
With their attention on the exciting future of the American every state also has their own local content policy on top of
offshore wind industry, Damen the Jones Act. These local content regulations stipulate the
director business development use of local vessel operators and local shipyards as vessel
& market intelligence David builders.
Stibbe and area manager North
America Daan Dijxhoorn answer Daan: Damen has embraced the Jones Act by forming
some of the most important cooperative relationships with local yards that have the
questions. capacity to build Damen designs. In fact, our procedures
for building vessels in local yards – Damen Technical
WHAT ARE THE MOST Cooperation – and our extensive experience in working
IMPORTANT DRIVERS OF THE with American yards is our unique selling point. We know
OFFSHORE WIND SECTOR IN how to deal with, and we have the flexibility to comply with,
THE USA? these local content regulations. This gives offshore wind Explainer: the Jones Act
Daan: Wind, of course, is the developers wanting to use the same vessel designs that have Otherwise known as the Merchant
key driver. To this end, the proved themselves in the European market a lot of chances. Marine Act of 1920, the Jones Act is
East Coast of the United States a United States federal statute that
is a prime location for the WHAT VESSELS CAN DAMEN OFFER THE AMERICAN serves to promote and maintain the
development of offshore wind OFFSHORE WIND INDUSTRY? American merchant navy. It states
farms. Average wind speeds David: For all the types of vessel required – for construction, that all goods transported by water
are the most relevant: from North Carolina all the way up to crew transfer, cable-lay, operations and maintenance tasks – between United States ports must
Newfoundland, winds speeds increase the further north you the Damen portfolio has proven solutions. be carried on US flagged vessels that
go. Furthermore, the northern states of the Eastern Coast have been constructed in the US, and
– Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York and Connecticut – Daan: It is also important to emphasise that we are adjusting owned and crewed by US citizens.
are also among the most densely populated and require a our designs to meet the American regulations of ABS and the
large amount of energy. In terms of energy production and US Coast Guard. Listening to specific regulations such as the
supply, therefore, offshore wind has great potential. Right Whales Act in the north-eastern region is also key for
our approach. Furthermore we are introducing our European
David: It is also politically driven. Most of the north-eastern clients to the US market. This can be seen as ‘matchmaking’
states are Democratic and have clear green strategies. Most key stakeholders from Europe such as operators like Orsted
notably, however, we have seen no slow-down since Trump and suppliers such as Vestas and Siemens to local operators.
has been in office as the White House has limited influence
on the developments in the offshore wind industry.