OMNI Features｜Vineyard Offshore Cuts 50 Jobs Amid Trump Uncertainty．Philippines and Korea Strengthen Clean Energy Partnership Through Knowledge Sharing Program．UK plans CfD Reforms to Boost Offshore Wind Development

｜Vineyard Offshore Cuts 50 Jobs Amid Trump Uncertainty
US offshore wind developer Vineyard Offshore has laid off 50 workers amid market uncertainties following President Donald Trump's return. The company stated that the decision was necessary to position its projects for sustainable long-term success in a fluctuating market.

Details regarding the layoffs remain unclear, with operations in Massachusetts, New Bedford, Boston, Uniondale (New York), and Eureka (California). Vineyard Offshore, a parent company of Vineyard Wind and an affiliate of Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, confirmed that no Vineyard Wind staff or contractors were affected.

｜Philippines and Korea Strengthen Clean Energy Partnership Through Knowledge Sharing Program
The Philippines and the Republic of Korea have launched the 2024/25 Knowledge Sharing Program (KSP) to advance bilateral cooperation on clean energy solutions. Spearheaded by Korean energy institutions including KEEI, KAIST, KOTRA, and KHNP, the initiative will target electric vehicle infrastructure, renewable energy integration, battery storage, and nuclear energy development.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian highlighted the mutual benefits of the collaboration, noting that while the Philippines will leverage Korea's advances in smart grids, battery technology, and nuclear power, Korea will benefit from the Philippines' expertise in geothermal and pumped-storage hydropower. The country has advanced three proposals under KSP—accelerating electric vehicle adoption, integrating floating solar and smart grid technologies, and bolstering clean energy capacity-building—with the goal of reaching 35% renewable energy by 2030. AEDC Chairman Yoon Sukhun underscored the program's role in reinforcing a long-standing partnership and a commitment to energy security and sustainable solutions.

｜UK plans CfD Reforms to Boost Offshore Wind Development
The UK government has launched a consultation on reforms to this year's AR7 Contracts for Difference (CfD) auction, aiming to expedite the development of additional offshore wind projects. The proposed changes include relaxing planning consent requirements for fixed-bottom offshore wind, revising budget setting and publication methods, and extending CfD contract terms beyond the current 15 years. These measures are designed to secure further capacity—on top of the 30.7GW already installed or committed—to meet the 2030 clean power target, while ensuring cost-effectiveness and value for UK bill-payers.

The reforms also propose support for repowering onshore wind, phased contracts for floating offshore wind, and an increased commissioning window for solar projects from 3 to 6 months. The consultation, open until 21 March, is part of a wider government strategy, including the Clean Industry Bonus, to secure the UK's position as a clean energy superpower.

Reference:Ocean Energy Resources｜Power Philippines｜reNEWS.BIZ