With Massachusetts close to passing an omnibus energy bill which supports development of at least 2,000MW of offshore wind capacity by 2027, multiple research institutions have embarked on developing a national framework for offshore wind energy research. The framework will be launched during a sess
APEM is carrying out an initial first year of post-construction aerial surveys at the Gwynt y Môr offshore wind farm, located off the coast of North Wales. The works commenced this month with the initial contract running for 12 months, with a potential extension for a further two years. Ultra-high r
The European Commission has appointed Ecofys and RPS to prepare a Baseline Environmental Assessment for a meshed grid in the Irish and North Seas. The results may be used to inform any future plans for renewable energy generation, energy storage, power cables and associated equipment in the North an
Bergen-based StormGeo has launched a new weather forecasting service aimed at providing operators, owners and supporting agencies engaged in cable laying operations with tools to assess weather risks related to operations at sea and identify suitable weather windows for all operations. StormGeo’s Ca
The Massachusetts State Senate has unanimously passed an omnibus energy bill which requires electric distribution companies to solicit long-term contracts for at least 2,000 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind by 2027. The Senate bill was offered as an amendment to the energy bill passed by the House of
Ireland’s Marine Institute has extended the public notice period for the foreshore lease application to upgrade the Galway Bay Marine and Renewable Energy Test Site has until 02 August 2016. The proposed upgrade would allow floating wind farm technology to be tested offshore at Galway Bay. The Marin
The 20-mile submarine cable which will connect US mainland to Block Island and export the electricity generated by the 30MW Block Island offshore wind wind farm, is expected to make landfall at Crescent Beach, Block Island, in the next week or so, depending on the weather. The cable laying barge Big
Germany’s 8.2 Consulting AG has supported Quadran – Énergies Libres in the planned floating offshore pilot wind farm off the coast of the French region Languedoc-Roussillon by defining the Quality, Health, Safety and Environmental (QHSE) concept for the tendering phase. As the step from fixed offsho
ABPmer, a provider of metocean services and part of Associated British Ports Holdings Limited, has launched Version 2 of its weather downtime calculator which now has wider application across the offshore wind, subsea cable and oil/gas sectors. ABPmer has been providing metocean information to the o
Wind turbine makers are set to benefit from the Paris Climate Agreement (COP21) as the call for increased investments to meet a targeted reduction in CO2 emissions is expected to positively impact their sales figures, according to Moody’s Investors Service. The increased investment, particularly in
The Netherlands-based consultancy Tauw Group will carry out soil investigations and determine the most suitable route for onshore cables which will connect four 350MW offshore wind farms in the Hollandse Kust (zuid) zone to the Dutch grid, TenneT reports. Tauw will examine several onshore cable rout
The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has announced the availability of an Environmental Assessment (EA) for commercial wind lease issuance, site characterization activities, and site assessment activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf offshore New York. The EA considers the pote
Transmission system operator TenneT will lay down its vision of a future large-scale European electricity infrastructure system in the North Sea in Hague on June 10. TenneT’s CEO Mel Kroon will explain the operator’s vision of a ‘North Sea Infrastructure’ system at a media event to be held in the Ni
Shell Setting Up ‘New Energies’ Unit. Oil & Gas Companies to Cause Clash of Giants in Offshore Wind? Shell has created a new division called New Energies, through which the oil and gas giant will invest in wind energy, along with its hydrogen, biofuels and electrical activities, according to The Gua
