The Network has created membership-driven Working Groups on key areas of opportunity within the offshore wind industry as a platform to provide consensus-based industry recommendations. Each will convene subject matter experts, foster discussion and information-sharing around key topics, develop strategies to advance the U.S. offshore wind market, and guide U.S. participation in global offshore wind markets.
The Network’s Working Group efforts drive significant engagement, both amongst Network members, but also with regulators and other stakeholders involved in the expansion of the U.S. offshore wind industry. Results of Working Groups elevate the Network’s profile and mission and identify members as experts and thought leaders. Working groups connect members directly with our Policy team and often lead to multiple publications and high-profile speaking engagements. Working groups are a member benefit for Leadership and Developer/OEM/Tier 1 level members. Request to join a group.
Market Development Advisory Committee
Limited to Members U.S. Offshore Wind Developer/OEM/Tier 1 Suppliers
In 2021, as part of its effort to jumpstart the U.S. offshore wind industry, the Biden Administration announced a goal of 30 GW of offshore wind by 2030 and directed BOEM to advance auctions for new offshore wind lease areas, and complete review of at least 16 Construction and Operations Plans (COPs) by 2025. There are numerous opportunities for public input that are associated with this advancement, and the Market Development Advisory Committee provides a forum where developers, OEMs, and other Tier 1 suppliers of the Business Network can shape the Network’s federal and state regulatory comments.
Staff contacts: Ross Gould, John Begala
Transmission Working Group
Grid and transmission constraints are a key hurdle to the long-term success of the U.S. offshore wind industry. Continued reliance on the generator lead-line interconnection queue process as a means for transmission planning will likely prevent the U.S. from deploying 30 GW by 2030.
The Grid & Transmission Working Group first published an offshore wind transmission paper (here) in October 2020, including key recommendations for how policymakers should consider reforming the transmission planning process to facilitate grid integration of large quantities of offshore wind generation. An update published May 2021 (here), contextualized developments in offshore wind planning in New Jersey, the United Kingdom, and Denmark, and made recommendations for immediate term and long-range strategic action that policymakers should take to ensure the long-term growth of the U.S. offshore wind industry. The Grid & Transmission Working Group is now considering the questions facing offshore wind transmission approaches in the Gulf of Mexico, and on the Pacific Coast.
Chair: John Dalton (Power Advisory, LLC)
Staff Contact: Ross Gould
Data & Digitalization Working Group
Offshore wind energy is a data–rich industry with the potential to utilize emerging big data technologies across all phases of project development to drive cost reduction through increased efficiency and risk mitigation. The Data & Digitalization Working Group (DDWG) is convened to provide a members’ forum to discuss, prioritize and take action to address data-related opportunities and industry needs in the U.S. offshore wind market. The Working Group’s mission is to catalyze an industry-wide approach to data acquisition, accessibility and analysis aimed at driving down the cost of permitting, construction, O&M and logistics, increasing financial return and supporting a global offshore wind community of practice to achieve breakthrough advances.
Chair: Joel Whitman (Global Marine Group)
External Support: Fara Courtney (Outer Harbor Consulting)
Staff Contact: Aybala Sen
Floating Offshore Wind Working Group
Fifty-eight percent of the U.S.’s estimated technical resource potential capacity is located in areas with water depths greater than 60 meters and will require floating offshore wind turbine technology. Floating offshore wind, innovative technology is confronting many of the same hurdles—supply chain, ports, permitting—that face its fixed-bottom counterpart. It also faces unique challenges because the technology is at an earlier stage of development. The Floating Offshore Wind Working Group is focused on supply chain, infrastructure, and state policies needed to support the expansion of floating offshore wind in the U.S.
Chair: Tim Fischer (Ramboll)
Staff Contacts: John Begala, Nancy Kirshner-Rodriguez
Green Hydrogen Working Group
Green hydrogen presents a significant opportunity to reduce carbon and grow the offshore wind energy sector. A green hydrogen market is already developing in Europe and projected to be a $130 billion industry globally. The Green Hydrogen Working Group will identify important industry initiatives that will advance green hydrogen as well as its associated supply chain and stakeholders. In addition, it will develop solutions to pressing industry needs that will enable green hydrogen to move towards a competitive levelized cost of energy.
Chair: Joe Tirone (Baker Donelson)
Staff Contact: Ross Gould
Gulf of Mexico Working Group
The Gulf of Mexico working group seeks to inform and advance offshore wind in the Gulf by exploring the unique characteristics and opportunities present in the region, including the potential role of green hydrogen, repurposing of existing infrastructure and how to successfully integrate into the regional transmission grid system. The working group’s efforts will be augmented by and coordinated with other Network working groups addressing these topics.
Staff Contact: John Begala, Sam Salustro
State Supply Chain & Workforce Development Advisory Board
The State Advisory Board is open only to government affiliated Network members and invited government representatives.
The development of the offshore wind industry in the U.S. is limited, in part, by the lack of a robust domestic supply chain. For the supply chain to keep pace with demand, more companies must enter the offshore wind supply chain. This Working Group is an assembly of state representatives to provide feedback on the development of a supply chain road map for an offshore wind industry that can supply 30GWs by 2035. Its members will assess collected information and identify where federal government action is needed to advance growth of the U.S. supply chain.
Staff Contact: Ross Gould
Ports & Logistics Working Group
The Ports and Logistics Working group is being launched (April 2022) to convene a cohesive discussion among key U.S. stakeholders to identify the most pressing needs and required responses to best ensure further development and enhancement of U.S. port facilities to be available for long-term offshore wind manufacturing, marshaling and deployment. For the U.S. offshore wind industry to be successfully established over the next 10 to 15 years, and to maximize the use of American made components and the employment of American workers, it is imperative to make significant and strategic investments in ports. Be on the front lines of developing innovative solutions and recommendations to policymakers.
Chair: Ed Liegel (Baird)
Staff Contact: Nancy Kirshner-Rodriguez