Offshore wind is increasingly being harnessed to provide a reliable, clean source of energy, with 50 GW currently installed globally across more than 250 projects. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) plans to expand the contribution of these resources to the national power supply and has outlined a roadmap for deploying 30 GW of offshore wind energy by 2030 in pursuit of realizing capacity of 110 GW or more by 2050.

The agency has outlined actions and policies to lower costs from $73/MWh to $51/MWh by 2030, develop a domestic supply chain, and inform sustainable installation of fixed-bottom offshore wind energy systems. The strategy also focuses on achieving the Floating Offshore Wind Shot goal of reducing the cost of floating offshore wind energy in deep waters by over 70% to $45/MWh by 2035. A domestic supply chain to support the deployment of 15 GW of floating offshore wind by 2035 will be developed.

DOE cites the need to coordinate and inform planning for a transmission system that integrates offshore wind energy with the U.S. electricity grid, and to support the development of technologies that increase offshore grid reliability, resilience and interoperability. Emphasis must also be placed on the promotion of storage and wind-to-fuel technologies from offshore wind energy.

[See also: Mapping a path to a US offshore wind energy supply chain]

When combined with environmental sustainability, energy justice, and community engagement efforts, the initiatives specified will transform the U.S. into a major leader and consumer of offshore wind energy generation.