Bristol Community College

The U.S. Department of Energy forecasts the industry will employ 43,000 people along the East Coast by 2030, and as a result, will create thousands of jobs in southeastern Massachusetts, providing area residents career opportunities in the emerging 21st-century global economy. The U.S. offshore wind industry is emerging in the North Atlantic near the Massachusetts coastline and Bristol Community College is leading the way in workforce development.  

Course Description:

Offshore Wind Orientation will provide a broad introduction to offshore wind as an industry and technical specialization. This 2-day, 4-hour class (8:00 am to 10:00 am) is aimed at those looking to understand more about the sector, with the intention of becoming part of the supply chain, or for satisfying general interest in this emerging industry. Equally, the course aims to provide students with a broad vocabulary of offshore wind and the confidence to engage with offshore wind professionals in a coherent manner. Content will include an overview of offshore wind technology and its increasingly important role in power generation; the process of permitting, site construction and operation; the opportunities for the USA’s emergent offshore wind sector to make its mark globally, and an introduction to those currently leading the development of this burgeoning, global industry.

Learning Objectives:

On successful completion of this module, students will have a good understanding of:

• The energy mix and offshore wind’s role in it
• Where offshore wind developments can be found around the world
• Onshore versus offshore wind – the key differences
• Who is big in offshore wind - ‘developers’ and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)
• The stages required to bring an offshore wind farm to life
• The stages of an offshore wind farm’s life
• The main components of an offshore wind farm
• The importance of effective operations and maintenance
• Latest perspectives on floating versus fixed structures
• The composition of the offshore wind supply chain, including possible entry points
• The key US stakeholders in offshore wind
• How the US offshore wind sector might develop over the next 10 years
• The skills required to grow an indigenous US offshore wind industry
• Offshore wind terminology, via a glossary of terms

About the Instructor:

Dr Alan Lowdon, Director of Strategic Development for the National Offshore Wind Institute (NOWI) over 30 years’ experience as a practitioner within the international energy and utilities sectors, having held senior positions with international corporations, Rolls Royce Industrial Power, British Gas, Suez, Shell, Mott MacDonald and Jacobs. At Mott MacDonald, Alan was involved in wind resource analyses for the Cape Wind and Fishermen’s Energy offshore wind projects. He has also acted as an advisor to Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation’s offshore wind farm in Cleveland, OH.  

Read full bio: Dr Alan Lowdon Bio 2021

Link to Bristol National Offshore Wind Institute website: http://nowi.org/