UK Trade & Investment and a delegation of UK companies showcase their know how in the offshore wind market this week at the AWEA Offshore Windpower Conference in Providence, Rhode Island.

Providence, RI (October 22, 2013) – The United Kingdom exhibited its deep history and know how in the offshore wind sector this week through a UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) delegation of British companies at the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) Offshore Windpower conference, the leading offshore wind energy event in the United States.

"The UK has as much offshore wind capacity already installed as the rest of the world combined, and growing," said Michael Rosenfeld, UK Trade & Investment, Vice Consul – US Clean Technology Sector Lead. "The UK has led the way in building a viable offshore wind market, and now has the know how to assist other countries like the US in developing their own offshore wind capabilities."

Buoyed by the right combination of resources, technologies and government policies, the UK has emerged as the undisputed global leader in the offshore wind market. Currently, the UK is home to 22 offshore wind projects totaling 1,075 turbines and 3,653 megawatts (MW) of installed offshore capacity. An additional 3,800 MW is either under construction or has planning approval and another 7,800 MW is in the planning system. Offshore wind could supply 18 to 20 percent of the UK's annual electricity by 2020, according to industry projections.

British companies showcasing their services at this year's conference include RES Offshore, a project developer that offers integrated development, engineering, construction and asset operation and management services for utility-scale renewable energy projects. RES Offshore, part of the well-known RES Group, focuses specifically on offshore wind, wave and tidal projects.

"With over 20 years of experience in the UK offshore wind market, RES now exports its expertise to other markets around the world," said Carolyn Heeps, Development Strategy Director at RES Offshore. "We are very excited at the opportunities emerging on the East Coast and the increasing enthusiasm for offshore wind in the USA."

UK companies Sgurr Energy and PMSS are already lending expertise to the budding US offshore wind market through involvement with Cape Wind, a $2.5 billion project off the coast of Cape Cod in Massachusetts scheduled to break ground before the end of 2013. PMSS provides consulting services and strategic advice on such areas as environmental, health & safety (EHS), quality assurance, and risk management, while Sgurr Energy provides technical assistance including wind turbine reviews and site suitability assessments to the project.

UKTI started the week in Boston, where it hosted an event in partnership with MIT Sloan and the British American Business Council of New England (BABCNE). The event brought together nine offshore wind industry experts to discuss opportunities for companies in both the UK and US offshore wind markets.

As part of the AWEA Offshore Windpower conference program, UKTI is sponsoring a session entitled, "Spotlight, UK Know How in the Offshore Wind Market" which will take place on Tuesday, October 22 from 10:45am – 12:15pm in Ballroom BC. The session will feature offshore wind experts from the UK and US including James Beal, Interim Chief Operations Officer at UKTI-Offshore Wind Investment Organisation; Alla Weinstein, President & CEO, Principle Power; Craig Houston, Senior Strategy & Policy Consultant, GL Garrad Hassan; and Cian Conroy, Senior Executive – Energy & Low Carbon Technologies, Scottish Development International. Simon Carter, UKTI Deputy Director, Head, Renewable Energy, will moderate the program.

UKTI will also hold a lunch reception on Tuesday at 1:00pm at its exhibition booth #425 for AWEA Offshore Windpower attendees to meet the British delegation and learn more about the UK's innovative technologies and services for the offshore wind sector.

The UKTI delegation is located at booth #425 during AWEA Offshore Windpower 2013 and includes Alpha Associates, Mott MacDonald LLC, RES Offshore, RPS Energy, Seabed Scour Control Systems, and Site Operative Solutions. For more information contact Michael Rosenfeld, UK Trade & Investment, Vice Consul – USA Clean Technology Sector Lead, at (310) 871-8169 or Mike.Rosenfeld@fco.gov.uk.


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About UK Trade & Investment

UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is the British Government department that helps UK-based companies succeed in the global economy. It also helps overseas companies bring their high quality investment to the UK's economy – acknowledged as Europe's best place from which to succeed in global business. UKTI offers expertise and contacts through its extensive network of specialists in the UK, and in British embassies and other diplomatic offices around the world. It provides companies with the tools they require to be competitive on the world stage. For more information on UKTI, visit www.ukti.gov.uk or telephone its offices in Los Angeles (+1 310 843 2986). For latest press releases, visit the online newsroom at www.ukti.gov.uk/media.