Offshore Wind Power in the USA will Supply more than 10 Million Homes with Renewable Energy by 2030

­The United States will redouble its efforts by 2030 to halve its greenhouse gas emissions and achieve the goal of a 100% carbon-free power generation system five years later. To this end, it will decisively increase its commitment to offshore wind energy so that, by 2030, it will be able to generate more than 30 GW of electricity, enough to power more than 10 million homes.

As part of this initiative, a Federal-State Offshore Wind Implementation Partnership was signed in late June between the White House and eleven governors from along the East Coast to lay the groundwork for the expansion of offshore wind energy through an ambitious investment plan across the entire supply chain - estimated to be close to $12 billion in private initiative per year-. This will involve the creation of new manufacturing facilities, port capabilities and, especially, the means of transport to move the new infrastructures - foundations, monopiles and wind turbines - to their final installation location, that will require the assessment and support from companies with international expertise although employing local manpower.

Sarens, global specialist in heavy lifting, engineered transport and crane rental, offers all parties involved in this important partnership agreement its extensive experience in load-in, load-out, storage and transport of wind infrastructures worldwide, as well as in their preventive and corrective maintenance, both for the two projects already underway - Vineyard Wind and South Fork Wind - for the seven projects that should be operational by 2025 (Gulf of Maine, New York Bight, Central Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, offshore the Carolinas, California and Oregon), or for the ten that are currently under review by the Department of the Interior, which could contribute an additional 22 GW to the energy grid.

According to the study "Offshore Wind Research and Development", presented by the US Wind Energy Technologies Office, the country's total energy generation potential through the use of offshore wind farms could reach 2,000 GW, which would be, in total, twice as much energy as is currently generated by the entire national electric grid.

In order to tap this enormous energy potential, the Federal-State Offshore Wind Implementation Partnership identifies the need to make a decisive commitment to the creation and supply of means of transport that support the objectives of the National Offshore Wind Supply Chain Roadmap. Thanks to the Federal Ship Financing Program launched by the Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration, a sufficient number of vessels will be available to accelerate the installation of the new wind turbines.

Sarens currently has eight barges specialising in the transport of monopiles and foundation bases for offshore wind projects around the world, including single, twin barge and modular units, making this company one of the major references in its sector, with a presence in a multitude of wind projects around the world.

Sarens owns extensive international experience in the assembly and maintenance of wind farms. It is participating in installations in France such as Saint-Nazaire, Provence Grand Large or more recently, in the lifting and transport work for the foundation bases of the new offshore wind farm in Saint Brieuc, off the Brittany coast, where it has been able to transport loads of more than 1,150 tons.

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