A Norwegian firm that hoped to construct the primary wind farm within the Gulf of Mexico has ceased operations and canceled plans to bid for a wind lease space off the coast of southwest Louisiana.
Havfram, an Oslo-based vitality firm, confirmed this week that its efforts to construct “a commercial-scale” wind challenge within the Gulf evaporated when it shut down Kontiki Wind, a subsidiary centered on wind farm growth. In a press release, Havfram stated the corporate will now deal with providing transportation and set up providers to the offshore wind trade.
Two different firms are shifting ahead with plans to construct wind farms in Louisiana waters, which prolong three miles from the coast. Final week, the state Division of Pure Sources granted a 60,000 acre lease to Danish agency Vestas, and a 6,100-acre lease to Diamond Offshore Wind, an organization owned by Japanese automaker Mitsubishi. Vestas plans to construct a number of farms off the coast of Cameron Parish, whereas Diamond has extra modest plans for a stretch of water west of Port Fourchon.
In June, Kontiki, which operated in Louisiana underneath the identify Pelican Wind, was fairly bullish about its plans to construct a farm off Cameron and Vermilion parishes, saying it might be “the primary offshore wind farm within the Gulf of Mexico.”
However provide chain points and rising rates of interest have plagued the worldwide offshore trade over the previous yr, and lots of firms have complained in regards to the Biden administration’s sluggish tempo of wind farm allowing in federal waters.
Rick Campbell, Kontiki’s vp of offshore wind growth, stated challenges within the trade have been “felt most sharply in origination and growth.”
“Below totally different market circumstances, I’ve little doubt we might have thrived,” he stated in a social media put up.
In August, the Gulf’s first-ever wind lease public sale drew just some bids. German vitality agency RWE received the precise to develop a wind challenge in federal waters close to Lake Charles. No firms bid on a second federal lease space close to Galveston, Texas.
Kontiki declined to reply particular questions on its plans for the waters off Cameron and Vermilion. The corporate had proven curiosity in creating floating wind farms that might energy offshore oil and fuel platforms.
In line with an settlement Kontiki signed in January with Houston-based marine engineering agency Oceaneering, the businesses deliberate to collaborate on floating “micro-grid” wind initiatives linked to offshore platforms and small islands within the Gulf and off the coasts of Brazil and northern Europe.
