New Academy at UD Trains Offshore Wind Energy Professionals
The University of Delaware, in partnership with the Energy and Climate Academy of Denmark, unveiled a new Offshore Wind Skills Academy this month at the American Wind Energy Association conference in Washington, D.C. The Academy will provide instruction in the basics of wind power, offshore wind turbines, and the development of offshore wind projects to professionals from traditional energy industries, supply chain companies, regulators, investors and others, the first offshore wind skills training program in the United States to focus on professionals and managers seeking to enter the industry.
Substantial offshore wind energy projects are expected to be built off the coast of the northeast United States in the next 12 years because of state government requirements to purchase offshore wind power. Because the North American offshore wind industry is still in its infancy—with only 5 offshore wind turbines in operation in U.S. waters—meeting that demand will require significant effort either by global offshore wind companies to learn about the specifics of operating in the United States or by American companies to learn how to enter the growing market.
The new Offshore Wind Skills Academy will focus on those seeking to build a domestic industry, with education on how wind power works, the logistics of building a wind power project, and the details of planning a wind power installation. There will also be information specific to the United States market, including permitting, environmental assessments, and local suppliers and ships, which would be useful for any professionals interested in working here.
Willett Kempton and John Madsen are professors in UD’s College of Earth, Ocean and Environment and its Center for Carbon-free Power Integration, where they study various aspects of wind energy. They have been named the inaugural directors of the Offshore Wind Skills Academy.
