BOEM’s ESP Assesses Port Infrastructure for Offshore Renewables

The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) Environmental Studies Program (ESP) has published new findings from a Pacific Region study.

ESP released the final report on “Determining the Infrastructure Needs to Support Offshore Floating Wind and Marine Hydrokinetic Facilities on the Pacific West Coast and Hawaii” online at its Environmental Studies Program Information System (ESPIS) website.

The study assessed the capabilities of established port facilities to support offshore floating wind and marine hydrokinetic technologies and functions. ESP evaluated the estimated fleet requirements, navigation requirements, port facility infrastructure, and supply chain characteristics of Pacific West Coast and Hawaii ports likely able to support an offshore renewable industry.

Based on existing technology, the study presents assessments of ports following a conceptual-level scoring matrix, relative to technology and function specific criteria.