North Carolina selects UK firm to assess offshore wind hub potential

The North Carolina Department of Commerce has hired UK renewable energy consultancy BVG Associates to help it assess the state’s potential as a US offshore wind industry hub, part of Governor Roy Cooper’s commitment to build a clean energy economy.

The move comes as Avangrid Renewables advances development of its three-stage, 2.4GW Kitty Hawk project off the state’s coast – the nation’s second largest after Dominion’s planned 2.64GW array in neighbouring Virginia.

Duke Energy, the dominant electric utility in North Carolina, this week said it now views offshore wind there as a future investment opportunity.

BVG Associates won a competitive solicitation over 12 other firms and will now help the agency research and develop an inventory of businesses, organizations, and physical infrastructure best positioned to promote offshore wind development in North Carolina.

The agency and BVG Associates will lead a team of experts that also includes representatives from Lloyds Register Energy Americas, Timmons Group, and North Carolina State University that will work on the assessment to be published later this year.

The North Carolina offshore wind (OSW) supply chain and infrastructure report will also help pinpoint the state’s advantages for key OSW industry segments such as wind turbine blades, nacelles and towers, substation and related equipment manufacturing, as well as project management and development, and construction staging.

“The new study will help us focus our efforts on the segments of the industry that are well matched to the strengths of our state,” said John Hardin, executive director of the agency’s Office of Science, Technology, & Innovation.

The effort also sends an important signal to global offshore wind developers and turbine OEMs that North Carolina is committed to the industry, both as a location for wind energy projects as well as an ideal manufacturing location for projects along the entire eastern seaboard, he added.

Aside from the 494 sq km (122,000 acres) Kitty Hawk area under lease by Avangrid Renewables, the federal government has proposed two other potential lease areas off North Carolina’s southern coast that may be available for auction in the next 18 months.

Wood Mackenzie in a May report said the US offshore wind industry is set to power up over the coming decade with as much as 25GW in new installations – or as little as 15GW given longer-term uncertainty with permitting delays, political risk and project timing.