THMA, UKTI Organize Offshore Wind Mission to USA

Team Humber Marine Alliance (THMA), in partnership with UK Trade & Investment, will lead a Northern Powerhouse offshore wind-focused mission to the USA next spring.

Working in tandem with UKTI, Team Humber and regional businesses will head for the east coast of the US from March 6-12, building on increasingly close ties.

Companies from the North of the UK interested in benefiting from the mission will be able to find out more at a free morning launch event, ‘Doing Business in the USA – Offshore Wind’ at the Hallmark Hotel, Hessle, on December 9. THMA and UKTI will be hosting NovaVis and the Virginia Offshore Wind Coalition with directors Chuck Decuir and Jeff Keever, who will be speaking at the event and be available for one-to-one business meetings.

Mark O’Reilly, CEO Team Humber Marine Alliance, said: “We have been working with UKTI on the idea for a Northern Powerhouse visit to the US for some time, so we’re delighted to make this announcement.

“Offshore wind in the US is transitioning from early development to commercial viability but has almost unbelievable potential. It has an estimated potential offshore wind capacity of 4,200GW – roughly the equivalent of 1,050 Drax power stations.

“That is a staggering opportunity, and the Humber and the North wants to be a part of it.

“As a region we have developed an enviable expertise in the offshore wind supply chain from construction to operations and maintenance, from vessel operation to blade repair and subsea services to port operation and logistics.”

Chuck Decuir, director of NovaVis, which is mapping and connecting the US offshore renewable energy supply chain, said: “NovaVis supply chain technologies and the Virginia Offshore Wind Coalition are keenly focused on the coordination of European intellectual capital with the newly forming United States wind energy industry, and we are very pleased to play a role in the THMA event.

“The use of the NovaVis technology platform to create an intelligent meeting and collaboration place for the offshore wind industry is grounded in our wonderful relationships in Europe.”

While visiting the Humber region, the US offshore wind leaders will visit Grimsby to see E.ON Humber Gateway offshore wind farm control/operations centre, AIS Group’s offshore/renewables training centre before touring the offshore wind support facilities at the University of Hull.

Mark Robson, regional director for UKTI Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “This Northern Powerhouse mission and event provides an outstanding opportunity for local companies to learn more about entering the burgeoning offshore wind power market in the US, even as Dong Energy, one of the world’s largest offshore wind farm developers, Siemens and Able UK progress their ambitious plans to create a world-class offshore wind green energy cluster on the Humber estuary.

“The latest figures show the considerable contribution exports to the US make to the economy in Yorkshire and the Humber. Made in Yorkshire and Made in Britain are formidable brands and an increasing number of businesses in the Yorkshire and the Humber are well placed to take advantage of exporting to America.”

US policymakers are beginning to follow the examples in Europe that have proven successful in stimulating offshore wind technological advancement, project deployment, and job creation.

While the US has lagged behind Europe in developing its potential offshore wind, construction on the country’s first offshore wind farm started this July by Deepwater Wind off Rhode Island.

There are panels or task forces in place to engage stakeholders to identify constraints and sites for offshore wind in at least 13 states, including Massachusetts, where DONG Energy has recently released project details of its proposed 1GW offshore wind farm.