LEEDCo Looking to Set Up Icebreaker’s Local Supply Chain

The Lake Erie Energy Development Co. (LEEDCo) is looking for local companies that will be a part of the Icebreaker project and will hold a supply chain event on 8 December in Cleveland.

In early 2017, Icebreaker Wind Requests for Proposals will be released and each bid specification package will contain the Icebreaker Wind Regional Supplier Resource directory, LEEDCo said, urging the regional companies to get listed in the directory and connect to the project key suppliers during the event.

Along with meeting the Icebreaker project team during the Supply Chain Open House event, companies will get an insight into the broad range of materials, equipment, and services the project requires, and learn about the Icebreaker Wind procurement process.

“It takes a lot! A lot of equipment, materials, services, and labor, much of which will be sourced locally, right here in Northeast Ohio. From pre-construction services to setting up a complete staging area with office trailers, temporary assembly units, furnishings, utilities, and security, to a long list of materials, rental equipment, material handling equipment, and all the trades for the construction and installation phase. And let’s not forget the hospitality services needed for the installation crews, cleaning services, sanitary services, crew meals, and crew transport,” LEEDCo said in the event announcement.

In September, the developer selected a local company, Middough Inc., to provide engineering services for the design and construction of the land based electric facilities needed to connect the Icebreaker offshore wind farm to the Cleveland Public Power (CPP) Lake Road substation.

Icebreaker in Lake Erie is North America’s first freshwater wind project. The site will comprise six MHI Vestas Offshore Wind 3.45MW turbines installed some 8-10 miles off the Cleveland coastline. It is the first project to withstand significant foundation icing conditions, surface ice and keel ice loads on the structure, and the first to acquire a submerged lands lease option in the Great Lakes.

State and federal permitting process is expected to be completed in 2017, with construction taking place in 2018 at a total cost of about USD 125 million.

LEEDCo has partnered with Fred.Olsen Renewables USA on the project, and has received over USD 10 million from the US Department of Energy, with an additional USD 40 million in federal funding contingent on meeting future milestones.

The upcoming supply chain event is co-sponsored by Fred. Olsen Renewables USA, Great Lakes Wind Network and Emerald Cities Cleveland.