In focus: Americas take the offshore energy helm

The industry has been evidently hitting the pause button ahead of Easter. However, it seems like one part of the world still keeps going without slowing down. The Americas took the spotlight this week in offshore energy news headlines, with Canada and the U.S. steering the wheel.

On 11 April, the governments of Canada and Nova Scotia revealed their intention to work towards positioning Nova Scotia as “a world leader in offshore wind and clean hydrogen production” by refreshing and expanding the mandate of their offshore energy regime.

The governments committed to further collaborate on establishing a competitive offshore renewables sector and updating the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB).

The agreement implies that the primary focus of offshore development efforts will be renewable energy projects.

Canada this week also got its first grid-compliant floating tidal energy system, delivered by Sustainable Marine in the Bay of Fundy.

After laying a one-kilometer underwater cable in late January, the company subsequently connected its PLAT-I 6.4 tidal energy system to a purpose-built substation, located on the shores of Grand Passage. Energization is expected in the coming weeks.

The proactive Canadian approach does not stop there. It is worth noting that the Montreal-headquartered SNC-Lavalin won a long-term contract for Abu Dhabi National Oil Company’s (ADNOC) offshore operations power project, expected to spearhead the UAE giant’s decarbonization efforts and aid in turning its net-zero goals into reality.

Going further south, the United States launched a framework document that aims to advance domestic and international green shipping corridors, demonstrating clear ambitions to decarbonize maritime trade routes in the coming period.

The move comes in support of the effort to achieve global net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by no later than 2050, and in support of the effort to achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions from the international shipping sector by the same year.

The U.S. is partnering internationally, working on implementation domestically, and investing in the research and development needed to help ensure it has the solutions necessary to meet its commitments.

Florida-based marine company Crowley and the U.S. unit of Shell have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to look into advancing the decarbonization of the maritime sector by supporting alternative energy solutions for the future of shoreside and terminal operations.

This could include lower-emissions vessels and technology at ports across the West, Gulf, and East Coast regions and electrification and net-zero solutions at terminals.

The deal is said to be in line with Crowley’s commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

From the U.S. offshore wind sector this week we saw Rise Light & Power and Delaware River Partners (DRP) partnering up to collaborate on developing the first offshore wind cable manufacturing facility in New Jersey.

The development of the manufacturing facility is subject to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) approval of the Outerbridge Renewable Connector project.

The plant will be located at the Repauno Port & Rail Terminal in Greenwich Township across a footprint of approximately 30 ha and will produce both inter-array and export cables.