US Plans $65Bn Investment In Offshore Wind, But Faces Constraints

US To Invest $65Bn In Offshore Wind, Create 56,000 Jobs By 2030, Says Report

The American Clean Power Association (ACP) released the 2024 Offshore Wind Market Report, which projected the clean power industry to invest $65 billion in offshore wind projects by 2030. This can support 56,000 jobs in the United States. There are currently 12 gigawatts (GW) of projects with active offtake agreements, including 4 GW under active construction at Vineyard Wind, Revolution Wind, and Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind.

Across 37 leases in the US, there are now 56 GW (56,363 MW) of capacity under development, enough electricity to power the equivalent of 22 million homes. Market analysts forecast that there will be 14 GW of offshore wind deployed by 2030, 30 GW by 2033, and 40 GW online by 2035. These outlooks build on the 7.6 GW of offshore wind projects seeking to be operational by the end of 2027.

“After the successful start-up of the 132 MW South Fork wind farm earlier this year, and with 136 MW operational at Vineyard Wind, offshore wind is gaining momentum with three projects under construction and thirty-seven more in development,” said ACP Chief Policy Officer Frank Macchiarola. “Harnessing America’s offshore wind resources will boost economic activity, create jobs, reduce pollution provide environmental and public health benefits, and strengthen America’s energy security by enhancing grid reliability and energy independence.”

The new report also highlights the economic impact of offshore wind on domestic US shipbuilding, port infrastructure, and other supply chain activities. There are more than 40 new vessels currently on order or under construction to support the industry. Investments include 28 Crew Transfer Vessels (CTV), seven Service Operation Vessels (SOV), two different types of installation vessels, and two tugs and two barges to support offshore wind operations and maintenance. The industry committed a record $3 billion of supply chain investment in 2023 alone, with total infrastructure investment announcements now exceeding $9 billion.

The Offshore Wind Market Report underscores the important role that states are playing in driving US offshore wind development. State solicitations could award procurement contracts for an additional 8,800 – 12,200 MW of offshore wind projects in the second half of 2024, all located off the Northeast coast. States with ongoing or upcoming solicitations include New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.

New Jersey took the lead among the states for most offshore wind capacity under contract. The Garden State has 5,252 MW of projects under contract. Virginia has the most offshore wind capacity under construction, with 2,587 MW.

The report notes that while contract cancellations and rebidding impacted offshore wind development in 2023, states have been quick to open new solicitations and streamline processes.

The momentum and investment are likely to continue with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) planning to hold four lease sales in the second half of 2024 in the Central Atlantic, Oregon, the Gulf of Maine, and a second Gulf of Mexico lease sale. These four lease sales will open nearly 1.9 million acres of federal waters to offshore wind development, potentially paving the way to more than 20 GW of future clean power generation capacity.

BOEM has issued a Record of Decision (ROD) for nine lease areas, involving 12 projects, as of July 5, 2024, up from two at mid-year 2023, allowing these projects to move forward with construction. Seven other projects have submitted Construction and Operations Plans (COPs), this includes five projects that have received a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) allowing them to move further along with the rigorous permitting process.

Setbacks From Cancellation  

On the other hand, another research by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) shared data, that revealed the share of offshore wind generating capacity that is under construction or planned in the United States is in flux. After two projects in New Jersey were canceled last year. Of the 7,200 megawatts (MW) of capacity reported in May in EIA’s latest Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory, projects totaling about 2,400 MW have been canceled since last December while others totaling 4,800 MW remain active in various stages of development.

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In late 2023, developer Orsted canceled the 2,400-MW Ocean Wind 1 and 2 projects in New Jersey, citing rising interest rates, high inflation, and supply chain delays.  One offshore wind project is currently under construction, and another is awaiting commercial operation. Both projects are expected to begin operation in 2024. The 130-MW South Fork Wind project is awaiting commercial operation. It consists of 12 turbines located off the coast of Long Island, New York. The project began generating electricity in March but has yet to reach commercial operation, a stage when an operator formally declares a generating unit as online and available for commercial dispatch. It is not unusual for electric generators to produce energy while they conduct tests for weeks or months ahead of the facility being placed into commercial operation.

The project under construction is the 800-MW Vineyard Wind 1 project located offshore of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, and it is partially built. Of the 62 turbines, 10 were in place as of this past February according to the project’s co-owner Avangrid. The complete project is expected to be online by this fall.

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