Dominion Energy has selected the global firm Huisman to fabricate the crane to be used on the U.S.’s first Jones Act compliant offshore wind installation vessel. Huisman joins a consortium of offshore wind industries led by Dominion Energy to build a Jones Act compliant vessel, which is strategically important to the U.S. offshore wind market.
“A Jones Act compliant offshore wind installation vessel is vital for the continued growth of the U.S. offshore wind industry,” says Mark D. Mitchell, vice president of generation construction at Dominion Energy.
“Huisman brings years of experience to this venture and will further enable the offshore wind industry to bring renewable energy to customers in the U.S.,” he adds.
Huisman, with factories in four countries worldwide, has an extensive product portfolio in the offshore wind market. Its products range from handling tools, (fully motion compensated) pile grippers and large capacity lightweight cranes. The crane for this installation vessel will be able to lift 2,200 tons and will enable the installation of the new generation of wind turbines.
Dominion Energy announced in May it is leading a consortium to build a Jones Act compliant installation vessel and the company expects the vessel to be fully utilized on a pipeline exceeding 5 GW of U.S. offshore wind construction though 2027, enabling the investment needed for this first of its kind vessel.
The vessel, which is likely to enter service in 2023, is expected to be based out of the Hampton Roads region of Virginia with a U.S. crew. This effort represents a significant step in developing a domestic manufacturing supply chain to support the multi-gigawatt opportunity for zero-carbon electricity generation in the waters off the coast of the U.S.
The Jones Act is a federal law that regulates maritime commerce in the U.S. and requires goods shipped between U.S. ports to be transported on ships that are built, owned and operated by U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Offshore wind generation is a vital part of Dominion Energy’s comprehensive clean energy strategy to meet standards outlined in the Virginia Clean Economy Act and to achieve the company’s net-zero carbon dioxide and methane emissions commitment by 2050.
In June, the company completed the installation of the 12 MW, two-turbine Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) pilot project, located 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach. Ocean surveys and geotechnical work are also underway for the 2,600 MW full-scale CVOW project, which is located in a lease area adjacent to the pilot project. These surveys will support the development of the project’s Construction and Operations Plan to be submitted to BOEM later this year.
Photo: An offshore wind installation vessel installing a CVOW pilot project turbine
