Climate Week: Exchanging learnings on offshore wind and green fuels in New York

Why is COWI participating in New York Climate Week?

For the third time, COWI attended the annual Climate Week and Sustainability Summit in New York City, which this year runs from 22 to 29 September. We hosted two very successful events and a well-received reception during this year's Sustainability Summit. 

"Climate Week is one of the most important climate and sustainability events in the world. It gives us a unique opportunity to meet with existing and potential customers and other important stakeholders, as well as business leaders, international experts, civil society organisations and policymakers, to discuss important issues related to sustainability, renewables and climate change," says Kenneth Simonsen, Executive Business Development Director, Renewable Energy.

He emphasises that it also lets us showcase our capacities and solutions.

"This year's focus on offshore wind and green fuels fits perfectly with our FUTURE-NOW strategy, not to mention our commitment to working only with non-fossil fuel projects and to contributing to a more sustainable and liveable world through our projects," Kenneth Simonsen explains.

Panel discussion with Equinor

Joining forces with Equinor, COWI hosted a panel discussion in a packed conference hall at Hudson Yards. 

"We focused on the lessons learned from Equinor's Empire Wind 1 offshore wind project in New York Bay where COWI is designing the offshore wind turbine foundations," says Jan Behrendt Ibsø, Senior Vice President, Renewables and Power-to-X at COWI. 

Empire Wind 1 will generate clean, renewable and affordable energy for over 400,000 homes and businesses across New York State, while reducing carbon emissions by over 1.6 million tons per year.

Offshore wind and green fuels roundtable 

COWI also held a roundtable for companies, state institutions and investors that focuses on scaling sustainable fuels and offshore wind in the US. The event was co-hosted by energyRe and the Danish General Consulate in New York.

"This kind of forum allows us to exchange ideas and experiences. It is extremely valuable to the development of renewable energy to share different points of view and gain deeper insights into the challenges that lie ahead of us in order to fulfil our climate ambitions," says Jan Behrendt Ibsø. 

The roundtable saw participation from leading companies such as Vestas, NKT, Vineyard Offshore, Atlantic Offshore Terminals, Mærsk Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, and First Ammonia, among others, as well as the US Department of the Interior and the US Department of Energy. 

The message from New York seems to be that recent years’ slump in the offshore wind market is about to change and that the wind industry can expect growth in the coming years.

Facts about Climate Week and Sustainability Summit

• Climate Week takes place in partnership with the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). 
• Climate Week is run in coordination with the United Nations and the City of New York. 
• Climate Week is the largest annual climate event of its kind with more than 600 events. 
• The Consulate General of Denmark in New York is hosting the annual Sustainability Summit NYC in relation to the opening week of the 79th United Nations General Assembly, Summit of the Future, and NYC Climate Week.