Click on a project for more information. The Energy Department has selected seven projects that will accelerate the commercialization of innovative offshore wind technologies in the United States. Each project will receive up to $4 million from the Energy Department to complete the engineering, site evaluation, and planning phase of their project. Upon completion of this phase, the Energy Department will select the up to three of these projects to advance the follow-on design, fabrication, and deployment phases to achieve commercial operation by 2017. Each of the these projects will be eligible for up to $47 million in additional funding over four years, subject to Congressional appropriations. This map also includes 42 grants the Energy Department made to offshore wind-related projects in 2011. Those shown in yellow are focused on advancing offshore wind technologies, such as modeling and design of offshore wind plants. Those shown in red focus on removing market barriers through analysis, assessment and strategic recommendations that will help the United States and offshore wind industry plan for greater deployment. The red areas of the map show the annual average wind speed above that part of the ocean. Areas with speeds above 7 meters/second are considered suitable for offshore wind power projects, though many other factors are considered when selecting a site.

Strong. Abundant. Consistent. These are just a few characteristics that make offshore wind an important source of clean energy for the United States. Data suggests there is more than 4,000,000 megawatts of wind energy potential that could be accessed in state and federal waters along the coasts of the United States and the Great Lakes. While realistically not all of this resource will be developed, it represents vast potential to generate renewable, reliable electricity for cities and communities near the nation’s coastlines.

The Energy Department’s Wind Program – in partnership with industry and national laboratories – works to accelerate the American offshore wind market through a portfolio of high-impact research, development, and demonstration projects.  

In one recently completed project, GL Garrad Hassan developed the first-of-its-kind port assessment tool. The web-based offshore port readiness tool consists of a user-friendly interface that enables planners to plug in key details, such as the number and size of turbines, required water depth, and foundation type, to quickly and easily locate ideal ports for their wind farm projects.   The tool also helps port operators identify areas in which additional investments are required at their facility to support the installation and maintenance of offshore wind farms.

In addition to the tool, GL Garrad Hassan published an in-depth report on offshore wind port readiness. The report identifies logistical requirements for moving offshore wind project components through port facilities and an analysis of six ports that represent the five coastal regions of the United States.

The project is part of the Wind Program’s larger efforts to help speed deployment of both land-based and offshore wind technologies, with the goal of expanding the use of wind energy as a cost-effective part of our nation's renewable energy portfolio. Learn more about the Wind Program and how wind energy works.

Patrick Gilman
Patrick Gilman is a Program Manager for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Energy Technologies Office
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