Wind Energy Publications

The 2017 Offshore Wind Technologies Market Update provides stakeholders with quantitative information about the offshore wind market, technology, and cost trends in the United States and worldwide. Key findings include:

• The U.S. offshore wind industry took a leap forward as several commercial-scale projects were selected for state-issued power purchase awards in 2018:
  • The first round of offshore wind solicitations in Massachusetts was awarded to the 800-megawatt (MW) Vineyard Wind project.
  • Rhode Island selected Deepwater Wind's 400-MW Revolution Wind proposal to support the state's goal of adding 1,000 MW of renewables by 2020.
  • In Connecticut, 200 MW of offshore wind capacity were selected from Deepwater Wind's Revolution Wind project as part of the state's Clean Energy Request for Proposals.
• The U.S. offshore wind project pipeline has reached a total of 25,464 MW of capacity across 13 states, including the 30-MW Block Island Wind Farm commissioned in 2016.
• Globally, wind turbines continue to grow in capacity, hub height, and rotor diameter, which decreases overall project costs. New offshore wind turbines are being developed with 10–12 MW of capacity (compared to an average capacity of 2.3 MW for land-based turbines and 5.3 MW for offshore wind turbines installed in 2017).
• Researchers are evaluating floating substructure configurations to overcome the significant challenge of building offshore wind turbines in deep waters, where roughly 60% of the U.S. offshore wind resource lies.