Offshore wind innovation hub announces opening in Brooklyn

New York, January 24, 2023 – The Offshore Wind Innovation Hub (OWIH) is open for business and announced its first call for applications. The Brooklyn-based Hub was founded in mid-2022 to identify and help develop promising start-ups to drive new innovations in the offshore wind industry. The three-year initiative is backed by Equinor and bp, partners developing the Empire Wind and Beacon Wind offshore wind projects, together with Urban Future Lab (UFL), the NYU Tandon School of Engineering, and the National Offshore Wind Research & Development Consortium (NOWRDC) and is supported by the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC).

Designed to facilitate testing opportunities, fast-track commercialization, and developing strategic partnerships, startups will have access to the co-working space and programming at the Offshore Wind Innovation Hub located in Industry City. An Accelerator Program will allow selected cohort companies to begin a six-month intensive mentoring and business development program in June 2023.

“We’re thrilled to launch the Accelerator Program at our Offshore Wind Innovation Hub with our esteemed partners to accelerate innovation in New York’s burgeoning offshore wind industry,” said Molly Morris, President of Equinor Wind US. “The demand for offshore wind is rapidly increasing, and innovative ideas and technological advancement are needed to help the industry develop in the U.S. and beyond.”

The first call for applications is focused on finding start-ups that provide innovative technology and solutions related to the development phase of offshore wind in New York. The application can be found here and the deadline for submission is March 27, 2023.

The Offshore Wind Innovation Hub will also offer membership to stakeholders outside the Accelerator Program. Interested parties can apply for access to the co-working facilities in Industry City, community programming, as well as workshops and networking opportunities with industry peers. Applications to become a Community Member are open year-round.

“We’re looking for New York’s best,” said Dave Lawler, chairman and president of bp America. “We know innovation is in New Yorkers’ DNA. It’s at the core of bp, too, as we transform ourselves to reach net-zero by 2050 or sooner and help the world get there too. At this incredible moment for growing offshore wind in our country, we want to empower New York’s startups to lead the nation.”

Lyndie Hice-Dunton, Executive Director of NOWRDC said, "We are delighted to be a part of this exciting partnership. The Accelerator Program is a unique opportunity to help support innovative solutions for offshore wind in the U.S., as well as help build strategic partnerships within this growing industry. We are looking forward to working with this outstanding group of leaders to achieve our mutual goal of accelerating offshore wind innovation."

“Equinor’s Innovation Hub will call on New York’s world-class entrepreneurial talent to develop cutting-edge technologies, and accelerate advances in the offshore wind industry,” said NYCEDC Chief Operating Officer Melissa Román Burch. “We are thrilled the Hub will partner with Venture Access NYC — an NYCEDC initiative to create a more inclusive and representative tech startup ecosystem. Together with our industry and community partners, we are building a nation-leading offshore wind ecosystem and a more inclusive future for New Yorkers.”

Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) said, “As we solidify New York’s leadership in offshore wind, we must bolster innovation in an end-to-end ecosystem — from concept to commercialization — that supports this game-changing industry. The launch of Equinor’s Offshore Wind Innovation Hub will build a strong network that allows new cleantech businesses, investors, and entrepreneurs to accelerate the time to market for their technologies, overcome industry barriers and bring forward economic opportunity for all New Yorkers.”

Pat Sapinsley, Managing Director of Cleantech Initiatives at the Urban Future Lab, said, “Our program will help to build an offshore wind industry in New York state. Equinor and bp will need to rely on smaller players to provide innovative solutions to local issues such as permitting, data collection, modeling, and more. These companies will be in the unique position of working with Equinor to devise and deploy the best solutions for this nascent US industry.”

Equinor is the operator on behalf of its 50-50 strategic partnership with bp. Together, the companies are developing the Beacon Wind and Empire Wind projects, which will supply 3.3 gigawatts (GWs) of renewable energy to New York — enough to power nearly two million homes.

To learn more, visit the OWIH website at www.offshorewindnyc.com.

About the Offshore Wind Innovation Hub (OWIH)

Catalyzing startups to unleash the potential of offshore wind in New York.

We leverage our New York City hub to grow the US offshore wind industry by harnessing the entrepreneurial powers of both global industry-leading startups and the local community. Our innovative programming and strong networks connecting innovators, local partners, investors, and industry will foster demonstration opportunities, safety awareness, knowledge transfer, innovation, and job creation. Through collaborative partnerships, we accelerate the local development of new technologies for the national offshore wind industry, to facilitate cost-efficiency gains. Our commitment to diversity and equity will advance inclusive supply chain and business development and accelerate the green economy in New York.

About Equinor

Equinor is one of the largest offshore wind developers in the United States.

Equinor is actively developing three projects: Empire Wind 1, Empire Wind 2, and Beacon Wind 1. Once completed, these projects will produce enough electricity to power about 2 million New York homes and will help generate more than $1 billion in economic output to New York State. Equinor is also a provisional winner of a lease area on the Outer Continental Shelf off California.

The United States is an attractive growth market for Equinor, with an ambition to install 12-16 GW of renewables capacity globally by 2030.

About bp

bp’s ambition is to become a net-zero company by 2050 or sooner, and to help the world get to net-zero. bp is America’s largest energy investor since 2005, investing more than $130 billion in the economy and supporting about 230,000 jobs. For more information on bp in the US, visit www.bp.com/us.

About the National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium (NOWRDC)

The National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium, established in 2018, is a not-for-profit public-private partnership focused on advancing offshore wind technology in the United States through high-impact research projects and cost-effective and responsible development to maximize economic benefits. Funding for the Consortium comes from the U.S. Department of Energy and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), with each providing $20.5 million, as well as contributions from the Commonwealths of Virginia and Massachusetts and the States of Maryland and Maine, and New Jersey, bringing total investment to approximately $47 million. For more information, please visit nationaloffshorewind.org.

About New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC)

New York City Economic Development Corporation is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization that creates shared prosperity across New York City by strengthening neighborhoods and creating good jobs. We work with and for communities to bring emerging industries to New York City; develop spaces and facilities for businesses; empower New Yorkers through training and skill-building; and invest in sustainable and innovative projects that make the city a great place to live and work. To learn more about what we do, visit us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

About the Urban Future Lab at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering

The Urban Future Lab (UFL) at NYU Tandon School of Engineering is New York City’s premier innovation hub for smart cities, the smart grid, and clean energy. As an integral part of Tandon’s Sustainable Engineering Initiative and NYU Tandon Future Labs network, the UFL is home to programs focused on policy, education, and market solutions for the green economy. Due to generous funding from our sponsors, UFL provides unmatched access to industry stakeholders, strategic advice, marketing and branding support, investor networks, and a community of like-minded founders. Our portfolio includes industry-leading startups in the areas of renewable energy, smart buildings, transportation, and resource-efficiency. The Urban Future Lab is leading the way to a more sustainable world by connecting people, capital, and purpose to advance market-ready solutions to address climate change. For more information about UFL, visit ufl.nyc and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. For more information about NYU Tandon, visit engineering.nyu.edu.
 

For media inquiries, please contact

• Lauren Shane, Senior Communications Manager, Equinor Renewables US
  Laush@equinor.com
  +1 (917) 392 4252
• Sayar Lonial, Associate Dean for Communications & Public Affairs, NYU Tandon School of Engineering
  sayar.lonial@nyu.edu
  +1 (646) 997-3721
• Kori Groenveld, Program Manager, National Offshore Wind Research & Development Consortium
  Kori.groenveld@nationaloffshorewind.org
  +1 (805) 657 7197