Partnering up to advance US offshore wind

Photo courtesy of Boskalis.

One of the current partners in the PIB US programme is Boskalis.

A BUSINESS COVENANT FROM THE DUTCH PROGRAMME PARTNERS FOR INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS (PIB) FOR THE US OFFSHORE WIND MARKET was recently signed. Despite the coronavirus crisis, the signing was able to go ahead via video call.

The Partners for International Business (PIB) programme allows Dutch businesses to enter into a public-private partnership with the Dutch government to realise international ambitions. In the PIB US, a group of Dutch businesses and knowledge institutions are partnering up to help advance the offshore wind industry in the US. They have the support of the Dutch government. This public-private partnership focusses on the exchange of knowledge, network building, and positioning the Dutch industry in the Northeastern USA.

A lot of potential The development of the offshore wind industry in the US has a lot of potential. The Netherlands has a great deal of expertise and know-how in this area. Because of this, Dutch businesses can secure an important position in this relatively young market. The goal of the PIB group is to establish the Netherlands as a strategic trade and knowledge partner for the American market. The overall objective of PIB US is to establish and strengthen the relations between Dutch businesses and all relevant stakeholders in the North-East and MidAtlantic States of the US. These stakeholders include local public sector and private decision makers, such as developers, (marine) contractors, local subcontractors, local and national knowledge institutes, wind power and renewable energy associations such as BNOW, AWEA and CESA, and ports and shipyards. With the efforts foreseen in this public-private partnership, we strive to help our US partners with their energy transition.

Focus In the coming years, the PIB group will focus on: • Knowledge exchange between Dutch and

American authorities and knowledge institutes. For example, by sharing information on how the Netherlands sets up offshore wind projects. • Participating in important offshore conventions in the US. • Organising trade missions, matchmaking activities, and knowledge events. For these activities, the group will work with the Dutch

Partners The PIB US programme is open to all Dutch businesses and knowledge institutions within the Dutch Offshore Wind Supply chain. The programme currently consists of ten companies: Boskalis, Cape Holland, C-Job Naval Architects, GustoMSC, Pondera, Royal IHC, SiF Group, SPT Offshore, Trelleborg, Ulstein Design & Solutions, and one knowledge institute, Bureau Waardenburg. Arjen Schutten, Managing Director of Holland Home of Wind Energy (HHWE), is the coordinator of the group. HHWE is the independent export association for Dutch (-based) wind power companies. HHWE represents, supports, and unites its members in pioneering emerging wind markets across the globe.

MoU The Netherlands-US cooperation in the offshore wind energy sector is also shaped by the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Foreign Trade and Development and the US Department of Interior – Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) which came in place in April 2019. Through the MoU, both partners work on sharing knowledge, experiences, and best practices within the offshore wind sector. Exchanged topics include policy exchange, risk management, environmental and ecological impact of offshore wind parks, stakeholder management, and cost reduction.

i. windandwaterworks.nl/pib/us

Image courtesy of S&P Global Market Intelligence.

The development of the offshore wind industry in the US has ample potential. PIB US focusses on the exchange of knowledge, network building, and positioning the Dutch industry in the Northeastern USA.