Rhode Island Commerce Corporation Picks Humber’s Offshore Wind Brain

Team Humber Marine Alliance and Aura Wind Energy have entered into a deal to develop an offshore wind strategy for the U.S. Rhode Island Commerce Corporation.

The three parties signed a contract on 2 May said to be the result of work to develop relationships with the U.S. East Coast over the last three years.

The strategy will follow a period of research and analysis, supply chain work and advice around cluster development and collaboration.

It is expected that the relationship with Rhode Island will continue over the next few years, Aura Wind Energy said.

“There has been huge interest in how we have overcome the challenges in developing a strong offshore wind sector in the Humber and to learn from us in building an offshore wind ‘ecosystem,” said Mark O’Reilly, Team Humber Marine Alliance CEO.

“They are harnessing our expertise so that they can develop an effective strategy early in the development of the sector. The deal illustrates just how far the Humber has come.”

According to RI Secretary of Commerce, Stefan Pryor, the partnership will help the U.S. state make the right strategic moves in building the local wind industry supply chain and growing the renewables sector in general.

Rhode Island is home to the first and only operating commercial offshore wind farm in the US waters – the 30MW Block Island wind farm.