| Work Detail |
According to a report released earlier this month, the US offshore wind supply chain spans 40 states as of December 2024, with 1,932 supplier contracts signed for offshore wind and offshore wind-related projects. The report, Offshore Energy at Work, issued by the US offshore renewable energy industry organisation, Oceantic Network on 15 January, shows that the offshore wind supply chain in the US is not concentrated exclusively in and around the coastal states off whose coasts wind turbines are installed or planned to be installed, but also reaches the country’s landlocked states such as Kentucky and Tennessee. The US saw more than USD 40 billion (approximately EUR 38.8 billion) in industry investments, much of it stemming from the late 2010s as businesses pivoted to offshore wind development, according to the report. This includes USD 25 billion (approx. EUR 24.2 billion) in new supply chain investments, USD 4 billion (approx. EUR 3.9 billion) in steel production, and USD 1.8 billion (approx. EUR 1.7 billion) in direct investment in new shipbuilding. These investments supported the growth of the US steel industry including steel mill expansions in Kentucky, Ohio, and Texas, and new facilities in Virginia and Maryland. In shipbuilding, Oceantic Network counts 21 shipyards in twelve US states and over 50 vessels for offshore wind ordered to date, including crew transfer vessels (CTVs), service operation vessels (SOVs), feeder barges, and the first US-built wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) and rock installation vessel. |
