2014 U.S. Offshore Wind Market Report: Industry Trends, Technology Advancement, and Cost Reduction

Research output: NRELPoster

Abstract

2015 has been an exciting year for the U.S. offshore wind market. After more than 15 years of development work, the U.S. has finally hit a crucial milestone; Deepwater Wind began construction on the 30 MW Block Island Wind Farm (BIWF) in April. A number of other promising projects, however, have run into economic, legal, and political headwinds, generating much speculation about the future of the industry. This slow, and somewhat painful, start to the industry is not without precedent; each country in northern Europe began with pilot-scale, proof-of-concept projects before eventually moving to larger commercial scale installations. Now, after more than a decade of commercial experience, the European industry is set to achieve a new deployment record, with more than 4 GW expected to be commissioned in 2015, with demonstrable progress towards industry-wide cost reduction goals. DWW is leveraging 25 years of European deployment experience; the BIWF combines state-of-the-art technologies such as the Alstom 6 MW turbine with U.S. fabrication and installation competencies. The successful deployment of the BIWF will provide a concrete showcase that will illustrate the potential of offshore wind to contribute to state, regional, and federal goals for clean, reliable power and lasting economic development. It is expected that this initial project will launch the U.S. industry into a phase of commercial development that will position offshore wind to contribute significantly to the electric systems in coastal states by 2030.
Original languageAmerican English
StatePublished - 2015

Publication series

NamePresented at the AWEA Offshore WINDPOWER 2015 Conference & Exhibition, 29-30 September 2015, Baltimore, Maryland

NREL Publication Number

  • NREL/PO-5000-64958

Keywords

  • Capex
  • market report
  • offshore wind
  • offshore wind technology
  • offshore wind turbines
  • performance

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