US Wind has appointed Wood Thilsted to carry out the detailed foundation design work for its 270MW MarWin project off the coast of Maryland.
MarWin is the first of the Toto Holdings-backed US Wind’s East Coast projects and is due to begin generating power in 2025.
Wood Thilsted has also been tasked with supporting development of the 808MW Momentum Wind project off Maryland and providing other technical support as required.
The offshore wind consultancy will meanwhile assist US Wind on development of Sparrows Point Steel, a monopile production factory that will be sited on the former Bethlehem Steel shipyard in Maryland.
The consultancy will provide technical specifications, application of codes and standards and general engineering support to the design of the facility.
US Wind has an agreement with Tradepoint Atlantic for site control of 90 acres of the Sparrow Point complex and is proposing an incremental investment of $150m in the monopile factory, according to its website.
Wood Thilsted will also be working with US Wind to maximise local fabrication of secondary steel, including internal and external platforms, boat landings, ladders and walkways for the projects in a bid to bring more offshore wind jobs to the Delmarva region.
Wood Thilsted US President and CEO Matthew Palmer said that the company is looking at “innovative approaches” around the platforms and transition piece for the project monopiles, with a focus on designing the foundation for local manufacturing “to the greatest degree possible”.
He added: “We are proud to play our part in US Wind’s ambitious offshore wind projects, especially in the development of home-grown manufacturing at Sparrows Point that offers the opportunity for Maryland/Baltimore to become one of the largest offshore wind manufacturing hubs in the United States.”
Jeffrey Grybowski, US Wind CEO, said: “We’re very pleased to be partnering with Wood Thilsted on the development of our first two offshore wind projects and the technical aspects of building out Sparrows Point Steel, Maryland’s first permanent offshore wind component factory.
“Their best-in-class engineering expertise will enable us to provide affordable clean energy and family-sustaining jobs for many in the region.”
In the last year, Wood Thilsted has also secured design work for Avangrid Renewables’ 804MW Park City Wind off Connecticut and 1.2GW Commonwealth Wind projects off Connecticut and Massachusetts.