Expansion of Ørsted’s operations into Houston underscores importance of city's growing renewable energy reputation
AUSTIN, Texas (Texas Insider Report) — One of the world’s largest energy companies, Ørsted, will be adding office space in the City of Houston during the second half of 2023, as part of its effort to expand its Texas footprint. The addition of a second Texas office will create 80 new jobs, and continue to solidify Houston’s budding Renewable Energy Sector. The company already operates an office in the Austin area that employs about 115 employees, and is constructing a first-of-its-kind 472-foot offshore wind turbine installation vessel in Brownsville, Texas.
The renewable energy giant – which creates electricity through onshore and offshore wind and solar power – announced it is close to a deal for office space for "a new Engineering, Procurement & Construction Hub," and will aid the deployment of clean energy projects in the region.
In its announcement, Ørsted highlighted the strong “energy legacy that is foundational to Texas” as a reason for opening its second office in the Lone Star State, with company CEO David Hardy, saying “Our growing team in Texas will continue to build our business and footprint in the region.”While Houston is synonymous with the oil and gas industry, the city has recently been gaining a competitive advantage in numerous renewable energy industry sectors due to the high concentration of energy expertise and experience among its residents.
Once fully operational, the Ørsted office will serve as a crucial nerve center for offshore wind projects in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as for other renewable energy projects in the area.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has recently finalized two new Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) in the Gulf of Mexico, including one near Galveston, Texas, with the potential to produce enough clean wind energy to power nearly 3 million homes when fully developed.
- A map of the WEAs can be found on BOEM’s website.
