Next week, the global offshore wind industry will convene in New Orleans for the International Partnering Forum (IPF), the largest offshore wind conference in the Americas. Hosted by Oceantic Network April 22-25 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, IPF will convene key decision makers, stakeholders, and companies to discuss the future of offshore wind in the U.S. as it begins construction on several new commercial-scale projects, tackles the adoption of floating offshore wind on both the East and West Coasts, and identifies the challenges and opportunities in building out a robust domestic supply chain.   

IPF Week will kick off Monday, April 22, with a series of all-day tours highlighting Louisiana’s offshore, port, and manufacturing infrastructure highlighting how the region will support the growing offshore wind industry. Also on Monday is a U.S. Offshore Wind Market Update, giving attendees a detailed overview of the market and featuring a series of speakers and panels providing the latest critical news and regional insights. 

On Tuesday, IPF will host the U.S. Offshore Wind Workforce Summit, a gathering of workforce development leaders, industry experts, government officials, and others to create solutions to address offshore wind industry workforce needs. in partnership with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Oceantic Network will also host the U.S. Offshore Wind Standards Initiative, gathering industry to discuss ideas for greater standardization within the offshore wind supply chain. Later in the day, the exhibit hall opens, kicking off with What’s New & Spinning, a series of interviews with the industry’s top developers, as well as the series of workshops and Networking receptions. The day will conclude with the U.S. premiere of the documentary Planet Wind at the Civic Theater. 

IPF’s Plenary Session will take place on Wednesday, April 24. IPF attendees will hear remarks from U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, Deputy Secretary of Energy David Turk, Best-selling author Dan Gardner, NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen Harris, Oceantic Network CEO Liz Burdock, and more (full list below). 

“This year’s IPF is bringing more content than ever to support the offshore wind industry,” said Liz Burdock, founder and CEO of Oceantic Network. “In addition, we’ve expanded our programming to place a greater focus on floating offshore wind and highlight the introduction of floating solar, tidal, and other ocean renewable energies. IPF is the place to be for all businesses working in offshore wind; whether you’re just starting out or have years of experience, there’s an abundance of knowledge and insight to be gained at IPF.” 

For the first time, IPF will host a two-day FloatON Summit beginning Wednesday, April 24. The first-ever Summit will focus on knowledge sharing, best practices, and innovations required for the U.S. to implement floating offshore wind along the East and West Coasts. The FloatON Summit will draw on the expertise of IPF attendees and convene the best and brightest minds to explain the market conditions, policy enablers, and financial and insurance mechanisms necessary to make floating offshore wind technology competitive and realize commercialization in the United States. 

This year’s IPF is on track to welcome thousands of industry professionals from around the globe, all focused on sharing valuable insights and making connections to move the emerging U.S. wind industry forward. Attendees will have access to nearly 400 exhibitors in the Exhibit Hall, more than 350 experts speaking on the latest developments, projects, and products moving the offshore wind industry and its supply chain forward, and a range of networking opportunities, including WindMatch™ one-on-one appointments and Tuesday’s IPF Opening Reception.    

IPF Week Highlights: April 22-25 
Presented by the Oceantic Network
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
900 Convention Center Boulevard
New Orleans, LA 70130 

Access the full schedule online. 

For press credentials, register online here. Live video coverage will be available for the Plenary Session only, contact us for more details.
Host sponsors for 2024 IPF are bp, Fugro, RWE, and Shell. 

April 22 

Local Offshore Wind Industry Tours
All Day
Bayou Lafourche Port and Offshore Training Tour
Morgan City’s Offshore Expertise Tour – From Ports to Shipbuilding
Beach to Blade Tour: Offshore Wind Research and Innovation 

U.S. Offshore Wind Market Update: Benefits of Regional Supply Chain Collaboration
1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
This session will be a comprehensive introduction to the U.S. market. Panelists will provide a broad summary of the sector, discussing both hurdles and opportunities. Additionally, officials from multiple federal government agencies and nearly 10 U.S. states will present insights on their unique initiatives. The day will close with a panel featuring members of the Network’s new West Coast Supplier Council. 

April 23

U.S. Offshore Wind Workforce Summit
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

U.S. Offshore Wind Standards Initiative
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Exhibit Hall Opens
1 p.m. 

April 24 

Plenary Session
 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.  

Liz Burdock, President & CEO, Oceantic Network 

Dan Gardner, Best-Selling Author, “How Big Things Get Done”

Doreen Harris, President and CEO, NYSERDA

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy David Turk 

Amanda Dasch, Vice President of Renewable Generation Americas – Shell Energy Americas  

Panel – The Next Chapter: Taking U.S. Offshore Wind from Planning to Construction 

Céline B. Gerson, President and Group Director Americas, Fugro; Ryan Donnelly, Commercial Director, Atlantic Shores; Joshua Weinstein, President, Offshore Wind Americas, bp; Amanda Lefton, Vice President of Development, U.S. East, RWE; moderated by Bloomberg Reporter Josh Saul 

 U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland  

FloatON Summit
2 p.m. to 5 p.m. 

Maine Governor Janet Mills 

April 25 

Regional Breakfast Briefings
8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. 

FloatON Summit: Day 2
9:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Oceantic Network | https://oceantic.org/