The US offshore wind industry is finally getting a shot of adrenaline, from a gigantic new made-in-the-USA offshore services vessel. .
“ECO EDISON will be delivered in 2024 and immediately provide operational support out of Port Jefferson, New York, for Ørsted and Eversource’s joint venture offshore wind portfolio,” Eco Edison announced back in March of 2022, referring to the South Fork Wind, Revolution Wind, and Sunrise Wind projects under the purview of the New England energy provider Eversource.
If you’re wondering whether or not the ECO Edison is a zero emission vessel, that’s a good question. The answer is no — for now. “The vessel will be powered by four Caterpillar 3512E EPA Tier 4 generator sets , each rated for 1700 ekW,” Edison Chouest explains, though they add that the gensets are “configured for variable speed operation, allowing for the highest levels of efficiency and minimized exhaust emissions.
Niezrecki also takes note of recent improvements, including a more streamlined approval process and a new, more flexible approach to contract-writing. The federal Jones Act is also in the mix. Niezrecki describes the Jones Act as a “significant hurdle for offshore wind development in the U.S.” However, it is not an insurmountable one.