Ramboll to help New Jersey develop its Offshore Wind Strategic Plan
Ramboll has been appointed to lead a consortium of offshore wind experts in the development of New Jersey’s Offshore Wind (OSW) Strategic Plan. The plan will see around 3,500 MW of offshore wind capacity brought online by 2030.
A shift to sustainable energy is one of the wider changes needed to stave off the worst effects of man-made climate change. The Paris Agreement has a target of no more than 2.0C warming by 2100, with a strong preference for 1.5C.
The US recently announced it plans to leave the Paris agreement. Yet, a clear scientific consensus around the causes of climate change, state-level legislative powers, and opposing political and environmental worldviews to that of the White House mean that numerous states are continuing to shift their energy economies towards more sustainable sources.
Wind energy is one of the primary candidates for renewable energy deployment. The technology has seen considerable development in recent years, with larger turbines reducing costs and boosting efficiency, wider economies of scale kicking in, and construction firms and suppliers developing deeper technical insight into designing and building windfarms.
As it stands, the US has relatively limited offshore wind capacity, at just 30 MW. This is set to change significantly in the coming years, as 14 GW of new capacity is slated to be operational by 2030. One of the most ambitious projects is the planned development of 3,500 MW of offshore capacity in the state of New Jersey. The development of the new capacity will be set out in the State’s Offshore Wind (OSW) Strategic Plan. The plan is set to be developed by a consortium of industry experts, led by Ramboll.
The specialist consulting firm will work together with Stantec Consulting Services, Rutgers Energy Institute Wind Group, BVG Associates, the Business Network for Offshore Wind, InGroup, and Endeavor Fisheries to guide the development of renewable energy in the state.
Ramboll will bring extensive national and international experience in the field to the project. The firm has worked on a range of wind energy projects, including the Fosen Vind project. The Danish firm also recently acquired two specialist consultancies in the space.
According to Allan DeLorme, Americas President of Ramboll’s Environment & Health business, “Ramboll has been leading the industry since it began in Denmark in 1986 and developed across Europe and into the U.S. Many lessons have been learned from Europe that can be applied to the U.S. market, but only with a strong understanding of the local environment, and the energy generation and usage markets. Together, this team is uniquely suited to help New Jersey develop a smart and effective OSW Strategic Plan that meets the needs and addresses the concerns of all constituents, while ensuring that the State achieves its goal of being a leader in the U.S. offshore wind market.”
In other Ramboll news, the engineering and design consultancy recently opened a new office in Minneapolis, adding Todd Renville as a principal in the office. The firm also recently welcomed Shauna Dallmer as a principal at its Houston office, and appointed Guy Lewis as the Chief Operating Officer of Environment & Health business in Ramboll’s Arlington, VA office.
