OUR STORY
Why ER-Marine?
ER-Marine was born out of a clear need for specialised expertise in South Korea’s rapidly developing offshore wind sector. Having spent over 20 years working in offshore oil and gas, I saw firsthand the opportunities offshore wind presented—not just in terms of renewable energy, but in leveraging existing offshore expertise to develop offshore wind.
In 2020, I founded ER-Marine to help wind developers and stakeholders, with a focus on offshore wind and marine hydrogen solutions in South Korea. Our mission is to translate complex, local challenges into realistic solutions.
“The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do”
About me
I’m Erik Roelans, the founder of ER-Marine, and I’m here to help.
My superpower is discovering ways to help you succeed in offshore wind in Korea. As the first independent foreign founder concentrating on offshore wind development in South Korea, I provide a unique combination of offshore expertise, local knowledge, skills and experience in the entrepreneurial trenches.
With boots on the ground in Korea and a sole focus on Korea because we wanted to be Korea experts rather than generalists.
Prior to joining ER-Marine, I worked on the design, construction, and commissioning of offshore oil and gas newbuilding projects at Korean yards.
My transition from oil and gas to offshore wind has allowed me to bridge the gap between these two industries, which, despite their differences, share numerous operational and technological synergies.
As a Director on the Board of the European Chamber of Commerce Korea (ECCK), I actively promote green advocacy and energy policy debate.
My pledge demonstrates my support to global collaboration and growing offshore wind as a long-term climate solution.
The Conflict – Complexity in South Korea’s Offshore Wind industry
South Korea’s offshore wind industry has great aims but face severe difficulties. One of the most complicated issues? The government has chosen to "go big" from the start—jumping directly into large-scale wind turbine generators (WTGs) of 15 MW and beyond, without the smaller pilot projects that exist in other countries.
While this demonstrates South Korea's shipbuilding capabilities and dedication to offshore wind, it also presents a unique set of challenges, particularly in terms of supply chain management, local expertise, and understanding the complexities of permitting and regulatory procedures.
It is difficult for foreign companies to navigate South Korea’s unique energy policies and local practices!
The Resolution
Here’s where ER-Marine comes in. Our deep understanding of both the offshore wind industry and the complexities of South Korea’s local context positions us as the right partner to help clarity these issues.
With boots on the ground, we offer insights into Korean energy policies and convert technical and regulatory details into concrete measures for companies seeking to enter the market.
But that’s not all. Our offshore knowledge, along with our local presence, provides us an advantage in converting early-stage offshore wind projects to success.
We’re here to explain the process and provide practical solutions, whether in T&I, O&M, Owner’s Engineering or permitting.
The first step towards success is always clear communication, which includes knowing the Korean landscape and translating it into English while keeping technical and cultural context in mind. That is our speciality!
Where are we headed?
We’re still in the early stages of offshore wind development in South Korea, but we see enormous potential, particularly for floating offshore wind.
This not only complements fixed-bottom wind farms, but also opens up new possibilities in deeper waters. ER-Marine is dedicated to advancing this industry by positioning itself as an important contributor in offshore operations and maintenance (O&M) solutions with a focus on zero-emission operations.
As we move forward, we hope to contribute to the growth of South Korea’s hydrogen economy.
Combining our expertise with hydrogen technologies will allow us to offer long-term solutions that align with Korea’s green energy goals.
