Policies and Perspectives of Renewable Technology Overseas

July 18, 2023

The Global Offshore Wind Conference, presented by RenewableUK, is an annual networking event hosting a variety of panelists from all over the offshore wind industry and market. This year, as a part of the Burch Research Field Seminar in Sustainability, I had the amazing opportunity to attend the Global Offshore Wind Conference in London! This conference gave me a lot of insight into the offshore wind industry, especially in areas I was previously unfamiliar with. This conference not only cemented my understanding of the global supply chain for offshore wind but also fostered in me a sense of optimism toward wind energy as the energy of the future.

The conference was an all-day event, running from nine in the morning to five in the afternoon. The entire day was full of keynote speakers, exhibitions for cleantech companies, and networking opportunities. I was especially eager to hear a panel from U.S. business partners discussing the potential of offshore wind in the United States! It was exciting to see the rise of a new market transcends global boundaries.

The opening ceremony was a conversation between Dan McGrail (RenewableUK) and Graham Stuart MP. As a student in the United States, I do not often get the opportunity to learn about policies and perspectives on renewable technology overseas. As such, it was amazing to hear from Graham Stuart MP about his hopes for the United Kingdom and the world as it relates to offshore wind and combating climate change. Pictured above are the two engaging in dialogue about the future of wind energy in the U.K.

After the opening ceremony and initial keynote speakers, I visited the exhibition hall where more than 200 companies were tabling and networking. The giant exhibition hall was full of constant chatter and busybodies. However, I was very pleased to find that, despite being one of the few students at the conference, many of the exhibitors were excited to talk to me and find out about my goals for the renewable tech industry. I met geospatial engineers from France, business developers from Scotland, and professors from England, all of who gave me sage pieces of insight and extended a hand to connect with them in the future.

After I spent some time networking and regrouping for lunch, I attended a panel focusing on U.S. offshore wind investment (pictured above). The panel features Liz Burdock, from Business Network for Offshore Wind, Jeff Andreini from Crowley Wind Services, Ivan Harnett from Acteon, Philip S. Bassil from NORTHGREEN Capital, and Paige Fox from Virginia Beach Economic Development. I really enjoyed listening to Jeff, Liz, and Paige discuss offshore wind investments on the Atlantic Coast. More specifically, I liked hearing about Jeff’s insight into the Jones Act (which may prove to cause difficulties in the offshore wind supply chain) and how his company aids in the energy transition. I also, admittedly, was eager to hear from Americans and their perspectives on the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) after hearing so much about the EU’s and U.K.’s perspectives on the legislation. Their insight has really cemented for me just how important the IRA is for renewable energy investment not just in the U.S. but abroad as well.

Overall, I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn from esteemed professionals and practice my networking skills with so many innovative and talented individuals from all over the world. I learned a lot of valuable information about the wind energy industry and am motivated now more than ever to continue pushing our legislators in the U.S. (and in North Carolina) to invest in offshore wind energy.

About the Author

This article was written by Sabrina Krupenko, Class of 2025, Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, Minor in Chemistry.