Shell forms Gulf of Mexico-focused wind turbine team in Louisiana

March 14 (Renewables Now) - The New Energies business of oil and gas major Shell Plc (LON:SHEL) has established a strategic partnership with Louisiana-based wind turbine rotor specialist Gulf Wind Technology (GWT) to focus on offshore wind technology and workforce development for the Gulf of Mexico.

Shell New Energies US LLC has invested USD 10 million (EUR 9.3m) in the creation of the Shell Gulf Wind Technology Accelerator programme as part of which the partners intend to deploy novel technologies to a demonstrator turbine as early as 2024. The idea is to develop, test and implement the first suite of optimised technical solutions for a wind turbine suitable for installation in the Gulf of Mexico.

GWT’s chief executive James Martin noted that the Gulf region’s wind resources are more variable than those on the US East Coast.

“Seasonal hurricane conditions and moderate average wind speeds create a situation that requires a novel approach to the application of technology and the framework in which it is both developed and demonstrated. The program has been specifically created to address and fulfill this need and enable next steps for the region and for the industry,” Martin said.

(USD 1.0 = EUR 0.933)