Empire Energy Partners' Offshore Division has announced a strategic joint venture with California-based steel manufacturer The Herrick Corporation, aiming to strengthen the domestic supply chain for offshore wind projects in the United States. The collaboration will focus on manufacturing key components for both fixed and floating offshore wind projects, including monopiles, transition pieces, towers, and secondary steel.
The joint venture will explore opportunities to build facilities dedicated to producing turbine parts such as nacelles, blades, and towers. The partnership seeks to leverage Herrick's steel production expertise and Empire Energy's engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) capabilities to enhance the capacity of the U.S. offshore wind supply chain.
Empire Energy emphasized that this partnership complements its existing collaborations with companies like Sarens and Largo Concrete. The company's senior director of offshore wind, Mike Milledge, described the venture as “a critical milestone in our ongoing efforts to strengthen the U.S. offshore wind supply chain.” He added that by combining the strengths of both companies, the joint venture will help support the nation's renewable energy goals.
Robert Hazleton, chief executive of The Herrick Corporation, highlighted the importance of integrating engineering, procurement, and fabrication capabilities at scale, stating that the partnership will provide the technical expertise and logistics support needed for cost-effective production of floating bases and monopiles.
The joint venture is expected to play a significant role in meeting future demands for offshore wind energy as the U.S. continues to expand its renewable energy infrastructure.
