The US state of Virginia has high ambitions for expanding its offshore wind capacity. The state is currently in the process of establishing the world’s largest offshore wind farm to date: The 2.6 GW Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project, which is due to be completed in 2026. Virginia is home to some of the biggest port facilities on the US East Coast, and the state has the ambition to become a central hub for handling and shipping out wind turbines on the US East Coast, similar to the Danish port city of Esbjerg’s role in the North Sea.
“Denmark’s climate ambitions make the most sense when we, as a green pioneer country, are able to share experiences from our green transition with other countries seeking to significantly reduce their CO2 emissions. I am therefore thrilled that we have concluded a cooperation agreement with Virginia. The state has major offshore wind ambitions, and decades of Danish experience can help ensure that Virginia will succeed with offshore wind. At the same time, Virginia’s expansion of offshore wind helps mature and open up markets for green energy tech - not least from Denmark,” said Dan Jørgensen, Minister for Climate, Energy, and Utilities.
Danish offshore wind industry poised to enter the US market
In March 2021, the Biden administration announced a national target of 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030, which matched the high offshore wind ambitions a number of US states had already announced. Virginia’s share of these 30 gigawatts amounts to 5.2 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2034. In comparison, the two Danish energy islands will eventually be able to supply around 12 gigawatts of offshore wind energy. Therefore, the US offshore wind market holds considerable potential for Danish companies.
In the state of Virginia, Danish companies are poised to provide green solutions due to its high offshore wind ambitions and receptiveness to non-US companies. Several Danish companies are already in the process of establishing themselves in Virginia. Among other companies, Bladt Industries and Semco Maritime have received orders connected to the development of the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project, and Siemens Gamesa is in the process of establishing wind turbine blade production facilities in the state. In addition, Ørsted has been involved in a 12-MW offshore wind demonstration project in Virginia, and Rambøll has been chosen as an advisor to the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project developer, Dominion Energy.
The Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Utilities and Danish Energy Agency have been hard at work on concluding the cooperation agreement with Virginia since October 2021, with assistance from the Danish embassy in Washington D.C. The agreement came about in connection with the Danish Energy Agency’s cooperation on issues related to the green transition with US state-level authorities under the Energy Governance Partnership programme. The Danish Energy Agency’s cooperation with US authorities on the field of energy began in 2017. The programme is focused on offshore wind as well as improving energy efficiency in buildings and industry at the federal and state level.
Denmark’s many years of experience with the transition to renewable energy can help accelerate the green transition in its partner countries, while also giving us an opportunity to learn from our partners’ experiences. Denmark is currently working with energy authorities in the USA, UK, Germany, Netherlands, South Korea, Japan, Poland and France under the Energy Governance Partnership programme.
Contact:
Press phone of the Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities: + 45 41 72 38 05