U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 1

2017 Offshore Wind Technologies 

Market Update

September 2018
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 2

Acknowledgments

This update was produced by Philipp Beiter, Paul Spitsen, Jake Nunemaker, Tian Tian, Walt Musial, Eric 

Lantz, and Vahan Gevorgian, and edited by Sheri Anstedt of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) 

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). We greatly appreciate the input, review, and support of 

Dan Beals, Alana Duerr, Patrick Gilman, Liz Hartman, Gary Norton, Mikayla Rumph, and Valerie Reed 

of DOE, Doug Arent, Garrett Barter, Paul Schwabe, Brian Smith, Tyler Stehly, and Amy Robertson 

(NREL), as well as James Glennie (Consulate General of Denmark), Seb Rae (The Renewables 

Consulting Group), Gavin Smart and Andrew McDonald (ORE Catapult), Liz Burdock (Business Network 

for Offshore Wind), Nils Bolgen (Massachusetts Clean Energy Center), Stephen Boutwell (Bureau of 

Ocean Energy Management), Cheri Hunter and John Cushing (Bureau of Safety and Environmental 

Enforcement), Knut Aanstad and Peggy Brown (Equinor ASA), Jeff Kehne (Magellan Wind), Doreen 

Harris (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority), and Stephanie McClellan 

(University of Delaware). Cover photo provided by Equinor.

Notes

The Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC (Alliance) is the manager and operator of the National 

Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy, 

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. This work was authored by the Alliance and 

supported by the U. S. Department of Energy under Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308. Funding was 

provided by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Wind 

Energy Technologies Office. The views expressed in the article do not necessarily represent the views 

of the U.S. Department of Energy or the U.S. government. The U.S. government retains—and the 

publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges—that the U.S. government retains a 

nonexclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this 

work, or allow others to do so, for U.S. government purposes.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 3

Preface

• The 2017 Offshore Wind Technologies Market Update was developed by NREL for 

DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Wind Energy 

Technologies Office. 

• This update complements the biennial Offshore Wind Technologies Market Report

(Musial et al. 2017), which includes a more detailed discussion of the key trends 

and statistics included in this update.

• This work provides decision-makers, regulators, developers, financiers, and supply 

chain participants with quantitative information about the offshore wind market, 

technology, and cost status worldwide and in the United States.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 4

Table of Contents

1 Key Findings

2 Data and Methodology

3 U.S. Offshore Wind Market Update

4 Global Market Update

5 Cost and Pricing Trends

6 Technology Trends

8 Additional Resources

5–11

12–16

17–36

37–45

46–56

57–66

75–76

Slide 

Numbers

9 References 77–82

7 Floating Wind Energy 67–74
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 5

1 Key Findings
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 6

Key Findings

United States

U.S. Offshore Wind Projects Advance in Development While Total Project Pipeline 

Remains Relatively Constant 

The U.S. offshore wind market continues to evolve as state-level offshore wind 

deployment targets and procurement policies are introduced, projects advance in 

permitting and offtake processes, supply chain constraints are mitigated, and research 

and development (R&D) investments are made. Including the 30 megawatts (MW) of 

installed capacity, the United States now has a project pipeline of 25,464 MW of 

offshore wind.1

• Developers have announced that roughly 2,000 MW of new offshore wind capacity is expected to be 

operational by 2023.

• The U.S. pipeline continues to be led by projects along the U.S. Eastern Seaboard, of which a number 

have made steps toward a more advanced stage of development during 2017 and the first half 

of 2018.

1 Potential capacity includes installed projects, projects under construction, projects moving through permitting and offtake processes, projects with site 

control, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s unleased wind energy areas, and unsolicited lease applications submitted by developers. See Section 3 for 

a detailed discussion. 
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 7

Key Findings (continued)

Continued State Activity in U.S. Offshore Wind Development

Dedicated state-level procurement and offtake mechanisms support U.S. offshore wind development:

• New Jersey increased the state’s 2030 offshore wind commitment from 1,100 MW to 3,500 MW, 

initiated new legislation to restart the review process for Fishermen’s Energy Atlantic City project, and 

directed the Board of Public Utilities to implement the state’s offshore renewable energy credits 

(ORECs) (New Jersey State Legislature 2018a). 

• Massachusetts’ Energy Diversity Act (2016) mandated the procurement of 1,600 MW of offshore wind 

via competitive solicitations by 2027. The first round of solicitations was completed on May 23, 2018,

with Vineyard Winds’ 800-MW proposal selected as the winner. The next solicitation is expected to be 

held before 2020 (General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 2016). 

• As part of the Massachusetts solicitation, Rhode Island was able to evaluate offshore wind project 

proposals. 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 (Office of the Governor 2018). 

• In February 2018, Connecticut issued a request for proposal (RFP) for 825,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) 

per year of renewable energy from offshore wind. Connecticut’s Department of Energy and 

Environmental Protection selected Deepwater Wind’s 200-MW Revolution Wind proposal. The project 

will be incremental to Deepwater’s 400-MW Revolution Wind proposal approved by Rhode Island 

(Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection 2018). 

• New York’s clean energy standard requires 50% renewable energy by 2030, and Governor Cuomo has 

identified a 2,400-MW offshore wind target to help achieve that goal (New York State 2017).

• Maryland has a 2.5% offshore wind renewables portfolio standard (RPS) carve out supported by 

offshore ORECs (House Bill 226 2013).
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 8

Key Findings (continued)

Proposed Additions of New Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) in the Atlantic Are Underway

Until March 2017, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has held seven competitive leases and has 12 

active wind energy areas with roughly 17 gigawatts (GW) of potential capacity (BOEM 2018a). 

• In response to state requests, BOEM has identified four new call areas in the New York Bight off the south coast 

of Long Island (BOEM 2018b). 

• As part of BOEM’s Renewable Energy Path Forward on the Atlantic, the organization is conducting a high-level 

evaluation of all areas on the Atlantic Coast for offshore wind development (BOEM 2018a).

• The U.S. Department of the Interior plans to auction the two unleased portions of the Massachusetts WEA (BOEM 

2018c).

• The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Royalty Policy Committee recommended BOEM should develop 20 GW of 

offshore wind by issuing 2 GW of new leases annually, starting in 2024, to ensure the development of a robust 

domestic supply chain (U.S. Department of the Interior 2018). 

Offshore Wind Industry Developers Are Working With the U.S. Department of Defense 

(DOD), BOEM, and the States of California and Hawaii to Resolve Potential Project 

Siting Obstacles

• In California, DOD has indicated that offshore wind turbines may interfere with ocean-facing radar arrays and 

offshore training areas (U.S. Department of the Navy 2018). These issues may impact the development of 

potential lease sites currently under consideration in central California, including Morro Bay. Offshore wind 

developers have announced they will continue to work with DOD officials to minimize the impact of offshore wind 

development (Nikolewski 2018). 

• Some developers are also considering potential projects in northern California, including Humboldt Bay, that are 

not anticipated to interfere with military training areas or radar (Redwood Coast Energy Authority [RCEA] 2018). 
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 9

Key Findings (continued)

U.S. Offshore Wind Technology Investments Aim to Spur Domestic Development and 

Overcome U.S. Deployment Barriers

• DOE’s Advanced Demonstration Projects, Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation’s (LEEDCo’s) Icebreaker, 

and the University of Maine’s Aqua Ventus I continue to advance and aim to demonstrate novel offshore wind 

technologies by 2022. 

• Developers included energy storage solutions in their proposals submitted to Massachusetts 83C and 83D 

solicitations (Massachusetts Clean Energy 2017 and 2018). 

• DOE announced on June 15, 2018, that it will begin negotiations with the New York State Energy Research 

and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to form an Offshore Wind Research Consortium. The award resulted 

from a $20.5 million DOE funding opportunity to encourage public-private offshore wind partnerships that 

address U.S. offshore wind technology issues.

U.S. Supply Chain Seeing Some Early Activity Even Before Execution of Major Power 

Purchase Agreements

• Clemson University and MHI/Vestas have signed a 5-year partnership agreement to test the 

V164-9.5 MW turbine’s drivetrains (Clemson University 2017).

• Zentech/Renewable Resources International, AllCoast/AK Suda, and Aelous Energy Group all intend to deploy 

a U.S.-flagged turbine installation vessel before 2020. 

• Developers and state agencies are actively assessing port infrastructure requirements and evaluating 

potential investment opportunities. For example, New York’s Master Plan identified New York Harbor, the 

Hudson River, and Long Island as potential sites for manufacturing, staging, or operation and maintenance 

(O&M) activities.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 10

Key Findings (continued)

Global

In 2017, 3,387 MW of Offshore Wind Capacity Was Commissioned Globally, Resulting 

in a Cumulative Installed Global Capacity of 16.3 GW

• The United Kingdom is still the largest offshore wind market with 5,824 MW of cumulative installed 

capacity, followed by Germany (4,667 MW), China (1,823 MW), Denmark (1,399 MW), and the 

Netherlands (1,124 MW). 

• France, Poland, and Italy have all shown renewed interest in offshore wind given its increased level of 

cost competitiveness.

• While China continues to be the largest offshore wind market in Asia, Taiwan signed agreements with 

Ørsted,2 WPD, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Northland Power, and Yushan Power for 3,800 MW 

of capacity. Japan, South Korea, and India also continue to be emerging players in Asia’s offshore wind 

market. 

Globally, Auction Prices Continue To Fall: Developers Have Placed Four Bids that Were 

Termed as “Zero-Subsidy” to Date

• Bids in the most recent Dutch auction (700‒750 MW, March 2018) and the German Borkum Riffgrund 

West 1 project (420 MW, April 2018) were entered as “zero-subsidy” bids.

3

• Despite higher prices in the past, the recent 2017 U.K. offshore wind auction saw bids prices fall in line 

with global averages.

2 DONG Energy changed its name to Ørsted in October 2017. This update will refer to Ørsted from here on.

3 Note that the Dutch and German auctions do not include the grid connection costs.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 11

Key Findings (continued)

Globally, Turbines Continue To Grow in Capacity, Hub Height, and Rotor Diameter—

Decreasing Overall Project Costs

• General Electric (GE) announced the development of a 12-MW wind turbine, the first original 

equipment manufacturer (OEM) to go above 10 MW (rotor diameter of 220 meters (m), 260 m total 

height), which the company expects to be available by 2021. Senvion and Siemens Gamesa have also 

announced 10-MW+ turbine designs. 

Developers Continue To Test New Fixed-Bottom Substructures To Overcome 

Geotechnical, Environmental, Domestic Content, and Installation Challenges

• EDF Renewables deployed the first cement gravity-based foundations at its Blyth Offshore 

Demonstrator in the United Kingdom. Jysk Energi deployed gravity-based foundations at Nissum 

Bredning in Denmark as part of a joint demonstration project with Siemens. Vattenfall installed its 

suction bucket and jacket substructure at its European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre in Aberdeen 

Bay, Scotland. 

Numerous Floating Substructure Configurations Continue To Be Evaluated and 

Demonstrated

• Equinor4 successfully installed its five-turbine, 30-MW Hywind, which uses a spar substructure, off the 

coast of Scotland in October 2017. 

• Senvion and Principle Power LLC have partnered to test floating platforms capable of supporting 

offshore wind turbines that are 10 MW or larger in real-world conditions by 2021.

• Ideol’s Floatgen 2-MW demonstration project was assembled in port, towed to sea, moored to the 

seafloor at Le Croisic (France), and connected to the grid in May 2018. 

4 Statoil ASA changed its name to Equinor ASA in March 2018. This update will refer to Equinor from here on.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 12

2 Data and Methodology
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 13

Data and Methodology 

• This update draws data from NREL’s internal offshore wind database, which is built 

on internal research and a wide variety of data sources, including peer-reviewed 

literature, press releases, industry news reports, manufacturer specification sheets, 

and global offshore wind project announcements. For the database, NREL has 

verified and sourced data from the following publications:

 The 4C Offshore Wind Database (4C Offshore 2018)

 Recharge News (Recharge Wind 2018)

 WindEurope Annual Market Update (WindEurope 2018)

 Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) Renewable Energy Project Database (BNEF 2018)

 MAKE Consulting Global Offshore Wind Database (MAKE Consulting 2018).

Data and 

Methodology 2
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 14

Data and Methodology (continued)

• The scope of the report covers the global fleet of operating projects through 

December 31, 2017. However, the report emphasizes recent developments and 

events in the United States through the second quarter of 2018. 

• Any estimates of capacities and project dates are shown as reported by project 

developers and state/federal agencies.

• All dollar amounts are reported in 2017 U.S. dollars, unless indicated otherwise.

• In this analysis, U.S. pipeline capacity refers to the sum of project-specific capacities 

and the undeveloped lease area potential capacities.

• For further discussion on methodology and data sources, please refer to the 2016 

Offshore Wind Technologies Market Report (Musial et al. 2017).

Data and 

Methodology 2
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 15

Data and Methodology (continued)

Acronyms and Abbreviations

AC alternating current

BOEM Bureau of Ocean Energy Management 

CapEx capital expenditures

CFD contract for difference

COD commercial operation date 

DOE U.S. Department of Energy 

DOD U.S. Department of Defense

FID final investment decision

GW gigawatt

HVAC high-voltage alternating current

kV kilovolt

kW kilowatt

LEEDCo Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation 

LIPA Long Island Power Authority 

LLC limited liability company 

m meter(s) 

MHI Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 

MW megawatt

MWh megawatt-hour

NREL National Renewable Energy Laboratory 

O&M operation and maintenance

OCS Outer Continental Shelf 

OEM original equipment manufacturer

OpEx operational expenditures

OREC offshore renewable energy certificate

OTM offshore transmission module

PPA power purchase agreement

R&D research and development

RCEA Redwood Coast Energy Authority

RFP request for proposal

RES renewable energy systems 

TBD to be determined

TSO transmission system operator 

WEA wind energy area

Data and 

Methodology 2
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 16

Data and Methodology (continued)

Step Phase Name Phase Start Criteria Phase End Criteria

1 Planning Starts when developer or regulatory agency initiates formal site 

control process

Ends when a developer obtains development rights to a site (e.g., through 

competitive auction or a determination of no competitive interest in the 

United States)

2 Site Control Begins when developer obtains development rights to a site (e.g., 

through competitive auction or a determination of no competitive 

interest in the United States)

Ends when the developer files major permit applications (e.g., a construction 

operations plan for projects in federal waters in the United States) 

3 Permitting/ 

Offtake Agreement

Starts when the developer files major permit applications (e.g., 

construction operation plan for projects in federal waters in the 

United States) 

Ends when a regulatory body(s) grants authorization to proceed with 

construction or when the project has signed an offtake agreement 

4 Approved Starts when the project has been approved by the relevant regulatory 

bodies and is fully authorized to proceed with construction or when 

the project has a signed offtake agreement 

Ends when sponsor announces FID and has signed contracts for major 

construction work packages 

5 Financial Close Begins when sponsor announces final investment decision (FID) and 

has signed unconditional contracts for major construction work 

packages 

Ends when project begins offshore construction work 

6 Under 

Construction

Starts when offshore construction work is initiated Ends when project has been connected to the power grid and all units fully 

commissioned; COD marks the official transition from construction to 

operations 

7 Operating Commences when project has been connected to the power grid and 

all units are fully commissioned; commercial operation date (COD) 

marks the official transition from construction to operations 

Ends when the project has begun a formal process to decommission and 

stops feeding power to the grid 

8 Decommissioned Starts when the project has begun a formal process to decommission 

and stops feeding power to the grid 

Ends when the site has been restored and lease payments are no longer 

being made, or if the site has been repowered

9 On Hold/Canceled Starts if a sponsor stops development activities (i.e., discontinues 

lease payments) and/or abandons a prospective site

Ends when the sponsor announces the restart of project development 

activities 

Criteria for Pipeline Classification5 of Offshore Wind Projects

• For the global and U.S. project pipeline, the following classification was applied (see Musial et al. 

2017 for more details).

Data and 

Methodology 2

5 This pipeline classification is not intended to correspond to the terms and definitions used by federal or state authorities. For more details, see Musial et al. 

(2017).
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 17

U.S. Offshore Wind Market 

Update

3
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 18

U.S. Highlights

United States

• The U.S. offshore wind industry took a large leap forward as commercial-scale projects were 

competitively selected in Massachusetts (800 MW), Rhode Island (400 MW), and Connecticut (200 

MW). As of June 2018, the U.S. market has 1,906 MW of capacity that developers have announced to 

commence operations by 2023 and 25,464 MW of potential capacity in the aggregate pipeline. 

• U.S. offshore wind development is primarily driven by state procurement mechanisms, such as ORECs 

employed in New Jersey and Maryland and competitive solicitations employed in Massachusetts, 

Rhode Island, and Connecticut. 

Massachusetts

• In December 2017, Bay State Wind, Deepwater Wind, and Vineyard Wind submitted responses to the 

Massachusetts Section 83C of the Green Communities Act RFP (400–800 MW of capacity) 

(Massachusetts Clean Energy 2017). 

• On May 23, 2018, Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources in conjunction with the state’s 

electric distribution companies selected Vineyard Wind’s 800-MW proposal as the winner of the 83C 

RFP. Vineyard Wind has until July 31, 2018, to submit an offtake agreement for the Massachusetts’ 

Department of Public Utilities’ approval (Massachusetts Clean Energy 2018). 

• Despite not being selected, Bay State Wind will continue to develop its project and plans to participate 

in future solicitations in Massachusetts and neighboring states (Bay State Wind 2018a). 

U.S. Market 

Update 3
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 19

U.S. Highlights (continued)

Massachusetts (continued)

• On December 1, 2017, Cape Wind Associates announced their intention to relinquish its lease with 

BOEM and ceased development of the proposed offshore wind project in Nantucket Sound.

• On April 11, 2018, BOEM issued a Proposed Sale Notice for companies interested in acquiring 

Massachusetts lease areas OCS-A 0502 and OCS-A 0503, the two unsold lease areas in the 

Massachusetts WEA (BOEM 2018c).

• On February 13, 2018, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission authorized Anbaric Development 

Partners to charge negotiated rates for an offshore transmission network comprised of a 1,000-MW 

high-voltage direct-current transmission line to the Southeast Massachusetts Load Zone and two 

1,000-MW offshore platforms with alternating current (AC) switching stations (Walton 2018).

• Vineyard Wind announced it will provide $2 million in funding to develop an offshore wind labor force in 

Massachusetts (Demetre 2018) and was granted an Environmental Notification Form certificate for a 

transmission cable to a substation on Cape Cod.

• Multiple offshore wind project proposals in Massachusetts also included energy storage. Although 

neither project was selected, Deepwater Wind included a 40-MW/40-MWh Tesla battery with its 

proposed 144-MW Revolution Wind project for the state’s 83D RFP, and Bay State Wind included a 55-

MW/110-MWh NEC Energy Solutions battery as part of its 83C RFP bid. 

Rhode Island

• As part of Governor Raimondo’s goal to acquire 1,000 MW of renewable capacity by 2020, Rhode 

Island issued a 400-MW offshore wind RFP in February 2018. As members of Massachusetts’ RFP 

review team, Rhode Island energy officials were ultimately able to select Deepwater Wind’s 400-MW 

Revolution Wind project as the winner of Rhode Island’s RFP (Office of the Governor 2018). 

U.S. Market 

Update 3
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 20

U.S. Highlights (continued)

New York

• After signing a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Long Island Power Authority in 2017, Deepwater 

Wind’s 90-MW South Fork project continues to advance through state and federal environmental permitting 

processes and is expected to commence operations in 2022. 

• In his 2018 State of the State address, Governor Cuomo announced that New York will issue an RFP 

to add at least 800 MW of new offshore wind capacity in 2018‒2019, in support of its goal of 2.4 GW of 

offshore wind by 2030. He has also directed NYSERDA to fund $15 million of clean energy 

workforce development (New York State 2018).

• New York’s Department of Public Service opened a docket for public comments on the state’s preferred 

offshore wind offtake mechanism (New York State Department of Public Service 2018). 

• The NYSERDA Offshore Wind Masterplan was released on January 29, 2018. The plan identifies areas for 

consideration of potential offshore wind energy development and contains a series of environmental, 

infrastructure, workforce, procurement mechanism, and cost analyses (NYSERDA 2018).

• BOEM published a Call for Information and Nominations on April 11, 2018, to understand interest from 

companies that might consider commercial wind energy leases within its proposed area in the New York Bight 

(BOEM 2018b).

New Jersey 

• In January 2018, Governor Murphy signed Executive Order #8 directing the Board of Public Utilities to move 

toward a goal of developing 3,500 MW of offshore wind by 2030 and fully implement the Offshore Wind 

Economic Development Act (2010) by immediately offering ORECs for up to 1,100 MW of capacity to eligible 

projects (State of New Jersey 2018). In April 2018, New Jersey also expanded its RPS goal to 50% by 2030 

and codified its 3.5-GW offshore wind carve out (New Jersey State Legislature 2018a).

U.S. Market 

Update 3
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 21

U.S. Highlights (continued)

New Jersey (continued)

• Fishermen’s Energy was not able to secure a PPA by December 31, 2016, to be eligible for another round of DOE’s Offshore 

Wind Advanced Demonstration Project funding. EDF Renewable Energy reached a preliminary agreement to acquire the fully 

permitted Fishermen’s Energy project (24 MW). Governor Murphy signed S-1217, requiring New Jersey’s Board of Public 

Utilities to accept an application from Fishermen’s Energy and review it for approval within 90 days (New Jersey State 

Legislature 2018b).

Connecticut

• In January 2018, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection issued an RFP for 825,000 MWh/yr 

of offshore wind. On June 14, 2018, the state selected Deepwater Wind’s Revolution Wind 200-MW proposal. The project will 

be incremental to Deepwater’s 400-MW Revolution Wind proposal approved by Rhode Island (Connecticut Department of 

Energy & Environmental Protection 2018).

Maryland

• US Wind continues to advance through federal and state permitting processes and is installing a meteorological (met) tower 

in 2018 in the Maryland WEA. Deepwater Wind plans to submit a Site Assessment Plan in 2019 for its 120-MW Skipjack 

offshore wind project located in the Delaware WEA (BOEM 2018e), which plans to sell power to Maryland. 

Virginia

• Ørsted and Dominion signed an engineering, procurement, and construction contract to develop their Coastal Virginia 

Offshore Wind 12-MW demonstration project, which originated in the DOE Offshore Wind Advanced Technology 

Demonstration Project program. 

Pacific Coast

• BOEM, state officials, and developers continue to plan for the deployment of a commercial floating offshore wind energy 

project off the Pacific Coast. RCEA proposed a project off the coast of Humboldt Bay, California, and signed a public-private 

partnership with an industry consortium led by Principle Power LLC. The group plans to submit an unsolicited lease proposal 

to BOEM in the summer of 2018 (RCEA 2018). Please note that this project is not included in the overall pipeline because 

the developers have not submitted an application to BOEM. 

U.S. Market 

Update 3
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 22

Project Development Pipeline

• The total U.S. project pipeline grew by 1,299 MW in 2017. This brings the grand total of the U.S. 

pipeline to 25,464 MW as of June 2018 with 30 MW already installed. The overall pipeline is 

comprised of 3,922 MW of project-specific capacity and 21,542 MW of undeveloped lease area 

potential capacity. Major changes were the Cape Wind (468 MW) lease termination and the addition 

of Deepwater Wind’s Garden State offshore wind energy project (600 MW). 

U.S. Market 

Update 3

U.S. Offshore Wind Project Pipeline by Project Status as of June 2018
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 23

Project Development Pipeline (continued)

• The U.S. pipeline continues to be led by projects along the U.S. Eastern Seaboard; 

a number of these projects advanced in the project development process during 2017 and the first 

half of 2018.

U.S. Market 

Update 3

U.S. Project Pipeline by State as of June 2018
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 24

U.S. Project Pipeline Status U.S. Market 

Update 3

Estimated Capacity Project-Specific Capacity 

Permitting

Stage Planning Site Control Procurement Initiated Contract Awarded Approved FID Under 

Construction Operating

Projects

AW Oahu Northwest (HI)

400 MW

Undeveloped6 Portion of 

Deepwater ONE North (MA)

495 MW

Maine Aqua Ventus I (ME)

12 MW

South Fork (NY)

90 MW

Fishermen’s 

Energy (NJ)

24 MW 

Block Island 

Wind Farm 

(RI)

30 MW

AW Oahu South (HI)

400 MW

Deepwater ONE South (MA)

816 MW

Vineyard Wind (MA)

800 MW

Skipjack (MD)

120 MW

Progression Hawaii (HI)

400 MW

Bay State (MA)

2,277 MW

Revolution Wind

(RI and CT)

600 MW 

US Wind (MD)

248 MW

Morro Bay (CA)

765 MW

Undeveloped6 Portion 

of Vineyard Wind (MA)

1,225 MW

Icebreaker (OH)

21 MW

WEA Wilmington East (NC)

1,623 MW

Empire Wind (NY)

963 MW

WEA Wilmington West (NC)

627 MW

Ørsted Ocean Wind (NJ)

1,947 MW

Massachusetts WEA 502 (MA)

3,012 MW

US Wind (NJ)

2,226 MW

Massachusetts WEA 503 (MA)

1,707 MW

Deepwater Garden State (DE)

1,050 MW

US Wind (MD)

718 MW

Dominion (VA)

1,371 MW

Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) 

(VA)

12 MW

Avangrid Kitty Hawk (NC)

1,485 MW

Total 8,934 MW 14,585 MW 1,433 MW 458 MW 24 MW 30 MW

6 Defined as sections of a lease area without current development activity
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 25

U.S. Lease and Call Areas U.S. Market 

Update 3

Map of U.S. Offshore Wind Lease and Call Areas

Note: Please refer to slides 26 and 27 for details on the depicted U.S. lease and call areas
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 26

U.S. Lease and Call Areas (continued) U.S. Market 

Update 3

# Lease and Call Area Project Name Developer Offtake

State

Current 

Status

ProjectSpecific

Capacity 

(MW)

Undeveloped

Lease Area 

Potential 

Capacity (MW)

Pipeline 

Capacity

(MW)

Lease 

Area 

(km2)

Winning 

Bid

Date 

Announced

Water 

Depth 

(m)

Average

Wind 

Speed 

(m/s)

North Atlantic

1 Maine State Lease Maine Aqua Ventus I University of 

Maine ME Permitting 12 0 12 9 N/A 6/4/2009 61–110 8.75

N/A OCS-A 0478 Cape Wind Cape Wind 

Associates MA Canceled9 N/A N/A N/A 119 N/A 10/6/2010 1‒18 8.7

3

Deepwater One North

OCS-A 0486

Undeveloped8

Deepwater Wind

MA Site Control 0 495

1,185 395 $3,089,461 

10/1/2013 30‒46 9.1

4 Revolution RI and CT Permitting 600 0 5/23/2018 30‒46 9.1

5 South Fork NY Permitting 90 0 1/25/2017 31‒36 9.2

6 Deepwater One South 

OCS-A 0487 Deepwater One South Deepwater Wind MA Site Control 0 816 816 272 N/A 10/1/2013 30‒46 9.2

7 OCS-A 0500 Bay State Wind Ørsted and 

Eversource MA Site Control 0 2,277 2,277 759 $281,285 4/1/2015 39‒50 9.3

8 OCS-A 0501 Vineyard Wind CIP and Avangrid MA Site Control 800 1,225 2,025 675 $150,197 4/1/2015 36‒58 9.3

9 OCS-A 0502 Unleased WEA N/A N/A Planning 0 3,012 3,012 1,004 N/A N/A 34–62 9.3

10 OCS-A 0503 Unleased WEA N/A N/A Planning 0 1,707 1,707 569 N/A N/A 34–62 9.4

11 Rhode Island State Lease Block Island Wind 

Farm Deepwater Wind RI Operational 30 0 30 10 N/A N/A 23‒28 9.7

12 N/A Fairways North 

Call Area N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

13 OCS-A 0512 Empire Wind Equinor NY Site Control 0 963 963 321 $42,469,725 12/16/2016 20‒40 9.3

14 N/A Fairways South 

Call Area N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

15 N/A Hudson North 

Call Area N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

16 N/A Hudson South 

Call Area N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

17 New Jersey State Lease Atlantic City Wind 

Farm

Fishermen’s 

Energy and EDF NJ Approved 24 0 24 8 N/A 6/5/2011 8‒12 8.3

18 OCS-A 0499 New Jersey Offshore 

Wind US Wind NJ Site Control 0 2,226 2,226 742 $1,006,240 3/1/2016 17‒34 8.6

19 OCS-A 0498 Ocean Wind Ørsted NJ Site Control 0 1,947 1,947 649 $880,715 3/1/2016 17‒34 8.4

20

OCS-A 0482

Skipjack

Deepwater Wind

MD Permitting 120 0

1,170 390 $24,108 12/1/2012 9‒33 8.3

21 Garden State DE Site Control 0 600

22a OCS-A 04897

Maryland Offshore 

Wind US Wind

MD Permitting 248 148 396 132 $3,841,538 12/1/2014 16-29 8.2

22b OCS-A 04907 MD Site Control 0 570 570 190 $4,859,560 12/1/2014 14-37 8.3

North Atlantic Subtotal: 18,360 MW 1,924 MW 16,436 MW 18,360 MW 6,244 km2 $56,602,829

Note: Project numbering corresponds to page 25. Pipeline capacity is the sum of project-specific capacity and undeveloped lease area potential capacity.

7 Effective March 1, 2018, US Wind’s commercial leases OCS-A 0489 and OCS-A 0490 were merged into a single lease, retaining lease number OCS-A 0490. These are still shown separately here to 

depict the difference in status of the formerly separate lease areas.

8 Defined as sections of a lease area without current development activity. 9 On December 1, 2017, Cape Wind Associates announced their intention to relinquish its lease with BOEM.

.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 27

U.S. Lease and Call Areas (continued) U.S. Market 

Update 3

Note: This table reflects information available by the end of Q2 2018. Call Areas (shaded in light gray below) are not counted toward pipeline totals. 

Winning bid amounts are not inflation-adjusted.

# Lease and Call Area Project Name Developer Offtake

State

Current 

Status

Project -

Specific

Capacity 

(MW)

Undeveloped

Lease Area 

Potential 

Capacity (MW)

Pipeline 

Capacity 

(MW)

Lease 

Area (km2)

Winning 

Bid

Date 

Announced

Water 

Depth (m)

Average

Wind 

Speed 

(m/s)

South Atlantic

23 OCS-A 0483 Virginia Dominion Dominion VA Site Control 0 1,371 1,371 457 $1,600,000 11/1/2013 18‒33 8.5

24 CVOW Research Lease 

OCS-A 0497

Coastal Virginia 

Offshore Wind

Ørsted and 

Dominion VA Site Control 12 0 12 6 N/A 11/2015 20‒26 8.3

25 OCS-A 0508 Kitty Hawk Avangrid 

Renewables NC Site Control 0 1,485 1,485 495 $9,066,550 3/17/2017 31‒43 8.5

26 Wilmington West WEA N/A N/A NC Planning 0 1,623 1,623 541 N/A N/A 14‒20 8.3

27 Wilmington East WEA N/A N/A NC Planning 0 627 627 209 N/A N/A 15‒29 8.4

28 N/A Grand Strand Call 

Area N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

29 N/A Winyah Call Area N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

30 N/A Cape Romain Call 

Area N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

31 N/A Charleston Call Area N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

South Atlantic Subtotal: 5,118 MW 12 MW 5,106 MW 5,118 MW 1,708 km2

Pacific

32 Unsolicited Application Morro Bay Offshore Trident Wind CA Planning 765 0 765 275 N/A N/A 461‒996 7.81

N/A N/A Humboldt Bay Principle

Power/EDPR/RCEA CA N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

33 Unsolicited Application Oahu Northwest Alpha Wind HI Planning 400 0 400 133 N/A N/A N/A 8.3

34 Unsolicited Application Oahu South Alpha Wind HI Planning 400 0 400 133 N/A N/A N/A 8.4

35 Unsolicited Application Progression Hawaii Progression HI Planning 400 0 400 133 N/A N/A N/A 8.4

36 N/A Oahu North Call Area N/A HI N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 8.3

37 N/A Oahu South Call Area N/A HI N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 8.4

Pacific Subtotal: 1,965 MW 1,965 MW 0 1,965 MW 724 km2

Great 

Lakes

2 Ohio State Lease Icebreaker LEEDCo OH Permitting 21 0 21 10 N/A N/A 16‒19 8.1

Great Lakes Subtotal: 21 MW 21 MW 0 21 MW 10 km2

Total U.S. Pipeline Capacity: 25,464 MW 3,922 MW 21,542 MW 25,464 MW 8,816 km2 $67,269,379
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 28

• BOEM published a Call for Information and Nominations on April 11, 2018, to understand interest 

from companies that might consider commercial wind energy leases within its proposed area in 

the New York Bight (shown below).

Source: Reprinted from BOEM (2018)

U.S. Lease and Call Areas (continued) U.S. Market 

Update 3

BOEM Map of New York Bight Call Areas
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 29

Atlantic

• BOEM issued a Request for Feedback on the Proposed Path Forward for Future Offshore Renewable 

Energy Leasing on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) to determine specific areas off the 

Atlantic Coast that are optimal for offshore wind development and to identify factors that increase the 

likelihood of projects being constructed (BOEM 2018a). 

Massachusetts

• BOEM issued a Proposed Sale Notice for companies interested in acquiring lease areas OCS-A 0502 

and OCS-A 0503—the two unsold lease areas in the Massachusetts WEA were originally part of the 

auction held in January 2015 (BOEM 2018c).

• BOEM issued a Notice of Intent for an Environmental Impact Statement on Vineyard Wind’s 

construction and operations plan to operate an 800-MW project offshore Massachusetts. If the 

statement finds the construction and operations plan to be appropriate, Vineyard Wind can advance 

toward project construction (Federal Register 2018a).

• On May 10, 2018, BOEM approved Vineyard Wind’s Site Assessment Plan for OCS-A 0501, allowing the 

company to install up to two Fugro SEAWATCH Wind lidar metocean buoys (BOEM 2018d). 

• On June 29, 2017, BOEM approved Bay State Wind’s Site Assessment Plan for OCS-A 0500 to install 

two floating lidar buoys and one metocean/current buoy (BOEM 2018d). 

U.S. Lease and Call Areas (continued) U.S. Market 

Update 3
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 30

Rhode Island and Massachusetts Area of Mutual Interest 

• On October 12, 2017, BOEM approved Deepwater Wind’s Site Assessment Plan for lease area OCS-A 

0486 to install an AXYS floating lidar 6M meteorological buoy (BOEM 2018c). 

New York

• BOEM published a Call for Information and Nominations on April 11, 2018, to obtain nominations from 

companies interested in commercial wind energy leases within its four proposed areas in the New York 

Bight (Federal Register 2018b).

Maryland

• On March 22, 2018, BOEM approved US Wind’s Site Assessment Plan for OCS-A 0490 to install a 

twisted jacket met tower designed by Keystone Engineering and deploy a seabed-mounted acoustic 

Doppler current profiler and conductivity, temperature, and depth sensors (BOEM 2018e). 

California

• RCEA issued a request for qualifications to identify a qualified entity or group to enter into a publicprivate partnership that could develop an offshore wind project off the coast of Northern California 

(RCEA 2018). 

• RCEA selected a consortium including Principle Power, EDPR Offshore North America, Aker Solutions, 

H.T. Harvey & Associates, and Herrera Environmental Consultants to lead the development of a 100- to 

150-MW offshore wind project 20 miles off the coast of Eureka, California (RCEA 2017).

U.S. Market U.S. Lease and Call Areas (continued) Update 3
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 31

Siting and Environmental Developments 

Environmental

• In September 2017, the Fisheries Survival Fund and other plaintiffs filed a lawsuit against BOEM 

regarding their current Empire Wind lease. Plaintiffs claim that BOEM did not adequately assess the 

project’s impact on local fish populations, habitats, and shoreside communities.

• In March 2018, LEEDCo conducted additional assessments on the potential impact to avian species 

after local environmental groups voiced concerns about the Icebreaker project’s potential negative 

influence on the local bird and bat populations.

Visual

• In March 2018, officials representing Ocean City proposed Maryland House Bill 1135, which prohibits 

turbine installation closer than 26 nautical miles from shore because of the potential negative visual 

impact on tourism industries. The proposed legislation did not pass through the committee.

Military

• Currently, offshore wind industry developers are working with DOD, BOEM, and the state of California 

to resolve potential conflicts with military operations, training, and radar that cover a wide portion of 

the OCS in central California, as well as Hawaii. Offshore wind development is being considered in 

portions of these areas.

U.S. Market 

Update 3
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 32

Procurement Mechanisms

• NYSERDA published the New York State Offshore Wind Master Plan, outlining a framework to develop 

2,400 MW of offshore wind capacity. The plan identified several potential procurement mechanisms, 

including fixed renewable energy certificates (RECs), bundled and split PPAs, utility-owned generation, 

market ORECs, indexed ORECs, and forward ORECs (New York State 2018). In January 2018, New 

York’s Department of Public Service opened a 60-day docket for public comments about 

implementing offshore wind procurement mechanisms. 

• The Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection issued an RFP for up to 825,000 

MWh/yr of offshore wind. On June 14, 2018, the agency selected Deepwater Wind’s 200-MW 

Revolution Wind proposal. The proposal will add to Deepwater’s 400-MW Revolution Wind project 

approved by Rhode Island, growing the project’s overall size to 600 MW (Connecticut Department of 

Energy & Environmental Protection 2018). 

• In April 2018, Governor Phil Murphy signed New Jersey’s new RPS legislation targeting 50% renewable 

energy and the procurement of 3,500 MW of offshore wind by 2030. The Governor’s Executive Order 

#8 directed the Board of Public Utilities to implement the 2010 Offshore Wind Economic Development 

Act by immediately offering ORECs for up to 1,100 MW of capacity to eligible projects (New Jersey 

State Legislature 2018a). 

• To help meet the Massachusetts’ procurement goal of 1,600 MW by 2027, the state’s Department of 

Energy Resources selected Vineyard Wind’s 800-MW proposal in the first round of its competitive 

solicitation.

U.S. Market 

Update 3
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 33

State Offshore Wind Procurement Targets 

• Massachusetts’ target: 1,600 MW by 2027. Massachusetts will hold competitive 

solicitations at least every 2 years to meet their target. 

• Connecticut’s target: 825,000 MWh/yr. Offshore wind projects will be acquired via 

RFPs.

• New York’s target: 2,400 MW by 2030. New York’s Public Service Commission 

opened a docket to receive public comment on the optimal offshore wind 

procurement mechanism. 

• New Jersey’s target: 3,500 MW by 2030. The state will obtain offshore wind 

capacity by holding RFPs and offering the winners New Jersey ORECs. 

• Maryland’s target: 2.5% of the state’s total retail electric sales. Capacity will be 

acquired by holding RFPs and offering the awardees Maryland ORECs. 

U.S. Market 

Update 3
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 34

Project-Specific Offtake Agreements

Project Name Offtake 

State

Offtake

Mechanism Details

Aqua Ventus I ME PPA

A term sheet was approved by the Maine Public Utilities Commission in 2013. This has not 

been executed into a PPA. In 2018, the Maine Public Utilities Commission reopened the 

previously agreed-upon term sheet because of significant changes in the energy market since 

2013.

Revolution Wind RI PPA

Rhode Island’s Department of Energy Resources evaluated project proposals within 

Massachusetts 83C RFP in an effort to help meet Rhode Island’s 1,000-MW-by-2020 goal and 

selected Deepwater Wind’s 400-MW Revolution Wind project. Deepwater has until July 31, 

2018, to reach an offtake agreement with an electric distribution company. 

Block Island Wind Farm RI PPA

Block Island’s PPA is a 20-year agreement with National Grid for 30 MW of capacity. The price 

of electricity increases 3.5% annually.

Revolution Wind CT PPA

Connecticut issued a competitive solicitation in 2018 to potentially obtain a maximum of 

825,000 MWh annually (~200 MW) from offshore wind under a PPA with a maximum duration 

of 20 years. Project(s) must connect into ISO New England. Deepwater Wind’s 200-MW 

proposal was selected as the winner. PPA negotiations with electric distribution companies are 

ongoing.

Vineyard Wind MA PPA

Massachusetts issued an RFP to obtain between 200 and 800 MW of offshore wind capacity. 

Vineyard Wind’s 800-MW proposal was selected as the winner. Vineyard Wind has until July 

31, 2018, to reach an offtake agreement with an electric distribution company.

South Fork NY PPA

South Fork’s PPA is a 20-year agreement with Long Island Public Power Authority for 90 MW of 

capacity at a yet-to-be-determined price. Harrington (2017) reports that the PPA is estimated 

to be around $160/MWh.

Skipjack MD MD ORECs

Skipjack was awarded ORECs that are 20 years’ worth of MD ORECs for 120 MW of capacity. 

Each year, 455,482 ORECs will be sold with each credit valued at $131.93/MWh.

US Wind MD MD ORECs

US Wind was awarded ORECs that are 20 years’ worth of MD ORECs for 248 MW of capacity. 

Each year, 913,845 ORECs will be sold with each credit valued at $131.93/MWh.

Icebreaker OH PPA

Signed a memorandum of understanding to provide Cleveland with 25% of its generation at an 

undisclosed price. American Municipal Power agreed to purchase 30% of its generation. 

Cuyahoga County signed a 10-year PPA to buy 8.6% of the project’s output.

U.S. Market 

Update 3
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 35

Research and Development

• DOE provided $20.5 million and selected NYSERDA to administer a public-private R&D consortium 

focused on addressing U.S.-specific offshore wind research (June 2018). 

• DOE’s two Offshore Wind Advanced Demonstration Projects, LEEDCo’s Icebreaker (OH), and University 

of Maine’s Aqua Ventus I (ME) continue to progress through permitting and offtake processes.

• Clemson and MHI Vestas Offshore Wind agreed to utilize the Clemson 15-MW dynamometer to test 

and validate the V164-9.5-MW turbine’s drivetrain (October 2017); the Clemson dynamometer facility 

development was supported with DOE funds (Clemson University 2017).

• The New York State Offshore Wind Master Plan presented a collection of 24 analyses that identified 

the best areas for offshore wind development, described potential economic and environmental 

benefits, evaluated procurement mechanisms, analyzed cost reduction pathways, explored impact 

mitigation options, assessed infrastructure/supply chain requirements, and identified workforce 

development opportunities (December 2017).

U.S. Market 

Update 3
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 36

Research and Development (continued)

• NYSERDA issued a $5 million RFP to collect metocean data in potential offshore wind development 

sites off New York’s coast using two floating lidar buoys (NYSERDA 2018). 

• Bay State Wind signed agreements with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; the Utility 

Workers Union of America; the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and 

Reinforcing Iron Workers; Bristol Community College; and the Massachusetts Maritime Academy to 

develop an offshore wind workforce training center (Bay State Wind 2018c). 

• Bay State Wind announced $2 million in grants for programs and R&D to protect New England fisheries 

and whale populations and mitigate the potential impact of offshore wind activities (Bay State 

Wind 2018d).

• Vineyard Wind announced a $10 million offshore wind industry supply chain accelerator, a $2 million 

workforce development program, and a $3 million program to develop innovative ways to mitigate 

marine mammals from offshore wind installation activities (Vineyard Wind 2018).

• The Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy issued an RFP to conduct 

an offshore wind supply chain and port infrastructure assessment to inform the long-term 

development of offshore wind in Virginia (Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals 

and Energy 2018). 

• The California Energy Commission signed a memorandum of understanding with the Danish Energy 

Agency to share knowledge, data, and best practices relevant to developing offshore wind energy 

(California Energy Commission 2018). 

U.S. Market 

Update 3
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 37

4 Global Market Update
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 38

Highlights

Europe

• During 2017, offshore wind auctions were held in Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom 

for projects with commissioning dates between 2021 and 2025. Auction prices were significantly lower 

than those from prior years and resulted in auction results that were termed as “zero-subsidy” bids in 

the German and Dutch auction (see additional detail in the Costs and Pricing Trends section).

• The Crown Estate announced that new seabed rights might be made available for offshore wind 

projects in late 2018 or early 2019 off the coast of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. As 

of May 31, 2018, it is no longer accepting applications for offshore wind farm extensions.

• The “Provence Grand Large” (24 MW) and “Groix & Belle-Ile” (24 MW) floating projects have submitted 

their consent applications, while results from France’s third round of floating auctions (“Dunkirk”) for 

bids of 250‒750 MW were announced in March 2018. 

• The Equinor/Masdar Hywind floating project in Scotland (30 MW) commenced commercial operation in 

2017 and achieved a capacity factor of 65% in its first 3 months of operation (November‒January) 

(Equinor 2018).

• After its merger, Siemens Gamesa is now the largest OEM, with a market share of 68% of globally 

installed offshore wind capacity using Siemens Gamesa turbines.

Global Market 

Update 4
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 39

Highlights (continued)

Asia

• China’s offshore wind industry has seen gradual growth since 2015, increasing grid-connected 

capacity to 1.2 GW in 2017, making the country the third-largest offshore wind market in the world. As 

projects from the 2014‒2016 National Offshore Development Plan continue to progress toward 

construction and commissioning, the pipeline is projected to grow steadily up until 2020. In addition, 

nine provinces have developed offshore goals totaling 75 GW. 

• China’s offshore industry has evolved from installing turbines at intertidal sites* to deeper offshore 

wind marine sites as its supply chain has matured. In 2017, most of the Chinese turbine OEMs 

supplied 3- to 4-MW turbines, whereas GE and Siemens supplied 5- to 6-MW models. Chinese 

manufacturers are developing 5- to 6-MW models; however, most are still in the prototype phase. 

• In April 2018, the Taiwanese Bureau of Energy awarded a total of 3,836 MW of grid connection 

capacity to 11 offshore wind farms proposed by seven developers. Of this total, 738 MW will be 

completed by 2020, with 3,098 MW to be installed between 2021 and 2025. All the projects have 

been awarded feed-in-tariff contracts. International developers captured 85% of the grid capacity and 

local developers were awarded 15% (BNEF 2018). 

Global Market 

Update 4

* Intertidal regions are coastal regions where turbine foundations may not always be submerged.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 40

Highlights (continued)

• In 2018, Taiwan embarked on a clean energy transition, aiming to add 25 GW of renewable energy by 

2025, including 5.5 GW of offshore wind (Jacobsen 2018). 

• Taiwan launched the “thousand wind turbines project” in 2012, which established targets for landbased and offshore wind. At the end of 2017, Taiwan had installed two demonstration turbines. 

Taiwan established a feed-in tariff for offshore wind of NT$6.0437 (approximately USD$0.20) per 

kilowatt-hour, which has attracted interest from experienced European developers as well as local 

developers.

• Planned Asian projects are more frequently located in deeper waters than installed projects elsewhere 

in the world but at a similar distance from shore.

Global Market 

Update 4
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 41

Installed Capacity

• During 2017, more than 3.5 GW of installed capacity was added, making the cumulative offshore wind 

installed capacity 16.3 GW by year’s end. The Netherlands added the largest percentage of installed 

capacity with 115%, followed by China (65%), and Germany (36%), among established markets. 

Global Market 

Update 4

Operating Global Offshore Wind Capacity by Market (Annual and Cumulative)

Note: The cumulative totals reported on pages 41 and 42 in comparison to pages 43 and 45 differ by 186 MW. A new data sourcing methodology was introduced in 

this year’s market update. The reported cumulative total on pages 43 and 45 reflect this new data sourcing methodology. For better comparison with the 2016 

Offshore Wind Technologies Market Report (Musial et al. 2017), the annual totals (and cumulative total) shown on pages 41 and 42 still correspond to the data 

sourcing methodology documented in Musial et al. (2017).
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 42

Installed Capacity (continued) Global Market 

Update 4

Share of Cumulative Installed Offshore Wind Capacity by Country

Note: The cumulative totals reported on pages 41 and 42 in comparison to pages 43 and 45 differ by 186 MW. A new data sourcing methodology was introduced in 

this year’s market update. The reported cumulative total on pages 43 and 45 reflect this new data sourcing methodology. For better comparison with the 2016 

Offshore Wind Technologies Market Report (Musial et al. 2017), the annual totals (and cumulative total) shown on pages 41 and 42 still correspond to the data 

sourcing methodology documented in Musial et al. (2017).
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 43

Installed Capacity (continued)

• Offshore wind projects in China comprised only 11.2% of the installed global capacity at the end of 

2017; however, China has the largest capacity of offshore wind projects under construction (3.2 GW), 

followed by the United Kingdom (2.6 GW) and Germany (1.9 GW).

Global Market 

Update 4

Comparison of Market Share for Projects that Operating vs. Under Construction

Note: The cumulative totals reported on pages 41 and 42 in comparison to pages 43 and 45 differ by 186 MW. A new data sourcing methodology was introduced in 

this year’s market update. The reported cumulative total on pages 43 and 45 reflect this new data sourcing methodology. For better comparison with the 2016 

Offshore Wind Technologies Market Report (Musial et al. 2017), the annual totals (and cumulative total) shown on pages 41 and 42 still correspond to the data 

sourcing methodology documented in Musial et al. (2017).
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 44

Project Development Pipeline

• Developer announcements indicate the global project development pipeline will grow annually by 24% 

(compound annual growth rate) through 2023. This growth rate is supported by an uptick in global 

installations in 2020, when 5.6 GW of Chinese offshore wind projects are scheduled to commence 

commercial operation.

Global Market 

Update 4

Developer-Announced Project Pipeline through 2023
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 45

Project Development Pipeline (continued) Global Market 

Update 4

• The project pipeline in Europe is the most advanced, whereas a relatively large share of Asian and 

North American projects are in the planning stages.

Operating and Developmental Pipeline for Offshore Wind Projects by Global Region

Note: The cumulative totals reported on pages 41 and 42 in comparison to pages 43 and 45 differ by 186 MW. A new data sourcing methodology was introduced in 

this year’s market update. The reported cumulative total on pages 43 and 45 reflect this new data sourcing methodology. For better comparison with the 2016 

Offshore Wind Technologies Market Report (Musial et al. 2017), the annual totals (and cumulative total) shown on pages 41 and 42 still correspond to the data and 

sourcing methodology documented in Musial et al. (2017).
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 46

5 Cost and Pricing Trends
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 47

Highlights

• During 2017 and the first half of 2018, offshore wind auctions were held in Germany, the 

Netherlands, and the United Kingdom for projects with commissioning dates from 2021 to 2025. The 

auction results support a trend of continuing price reductions over time and resulted in awards that 

were termed as “zero-subsidy”10 in Germany and the Netherlands. 

• Vattenfall/Nuon was awarded the permit to construct and operate the Dutch Hollandse Kust Zuid I 

and II projects (700–750 MW) on March 19, 2018. The site is scheduled for commercial operation by 

2022, which, if successfully delivered, would make it the first offshore wind farm globally to be 

constructed without a subsidy.11

• Germany awarded several zero-subsidy bids in its two offshore wind auctions held during 2017‒2018. 

No negative bids were allowed in Germany’s most recent offshore wind auction.

• Invitations to submit applications for the next two offshore wind permit procedures in the Netherlands 

are planned for 2018 (Hollandse Kust [zuid] Wind Farm Sites III and IV) and 2019 (Hollandse 

Kust [noord]).

10 Zero-subsidy auction results indicate that the auction award for site development and operation provides the award winner with a subsidy of $0/MWh on top 

of the prevailing wholesale electricity price during the contract term. Projects awarded with zero-subsidy bids receive the wholesale electricity price for their 

generation and are fully exposed to the merchant price risk of the competitive wholesale power market (for a more detailed discussion, see e.g., Beiter et al. 

forthcoming).

11 The German zero-subsidy results awarded in April 2017 (1,490 MW awarded) are expected to commence commercial operation in 2024‒2025.

Cost and 

Pricing Trends 5
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 48

Highlights (continued)

• The expected cost reductions driving recent record-low winning auction bids for future European 

projects are reported to include a combination of increased turbine and project size; continued 

optimization of technology and installation processes; improved market, regulatory, and auction 

design structures; increased competition within the supply chain; favorable macroeconomic trends; 

and strategic market behavior (Musial et al. 2017; Green Giraffe 2018).

• Although many cost reductions are generally expected to be transferrable to a U.S. context,12 the full 

magnitude of these cost reductions may not be exhibited in the first tranche of full-scale commercial 

U.S. projects, in part because of both physical differences (e.g., water depth, distance from shore, 

wind resource, geotechnical, marine life) and the risks associated with deploying in a new market 

(Beiter et al. forthcoming). 

Cost and 

Pricing Trends 5

12 For instance, some European developers (Dutch and German) are not responsible for the costs of transmission infrastructure as these are the financial 

obligation of the grid operator. It is currently expected that in the United States the developer may have to pay for a larger share of the transmission 

infrastructure than in some European jurisdictions. 
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 49

Highlights (continued)

Capital Expenditures

Capital expenditures (CapEx) are the single largest contributor to the life cycle costs of offshore wind 

plants and include all expenditures incurred prior to the COD. 

• After an increase in CapEx up until 2015, CapEx values have stabilized and are estimated to decline 

over the next few years. 

• Hornsea One (1,218 MW) in the United Kingdom, the largest offshore wind farm currently under 

development (Hill 2018), has a reported CapEx of $4 billion ($3,280/kilowatt [kW]).

Operational Expenditures

Operational expenditures (OpEx) cover all costs incurred after the COD—but before decommissioning—that 

are required to operate the project and maintain turbine availability to generate power.

• Industrywide OpEx estimates for offshore wind projects are subject to considerable uncertainty 

because of limited publicly available empirical data.13 Major O&M cost drivers include the distance 

from the project to maintenance facilities and the prevailing metocean climate at a project site (Stehly 

et al. 2017).

13 Although wind project owners commonly report CapEx, they rarely report OpEx. Uncertainty from the lack of available data is further amplified because it is 

standard practice in the offshore wind industry for turbine OEMs to offer 5-year warranties, so the full range of operating costs may not be apparent.

Cost and 

Pricing Trends 5
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 50

Auction Pricing Trends

Notes: *Grid and development costs added; **Grid costs added and contract length adjusted 

Sources: NREL Spatial Cost Model; BNEF 2017 (German wholesale price projections); PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (2018) (Dutch 

wholesale price projections)

Cost and 

Pricing Trends 5

• The observed price decline for project bids in recent auctions continues with the latest rounds in 

Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom during 2017‒2018. Data shown here reflect 

estimated levelized revenue based on winning bids and expected wholesale power market revenues.

United Kingdom Denmark Netherlands Germany

Adjusted Strike Prices from European Offshore Wind Auctions
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 51

Auction Pricing Trends (continued)

Germany

14 Adjusted auction price was estimated by calculating levelized revenue of energy as described in Beiter et al. (forthcoming) and by adding grid and development costs 

for direct comparison with projects across various jurisdictions.

15 A one-way CfD award provides a guaranteed price floor at which generation is compensated during the length of the contract term; if the wholesale price falls above 

the guaranteed price floor, the generator receives the wholesale price (upside not capped).

Source: Green Giraffe (2018)

Cost and 

Pricing Trends 5

Auction First Offshore Wind Auction (§ 26 WindSeeG) Second Offshore Wind Auction 

(§ 26 WindSeeG) 

Award type One-way contract for difference (CfD)15 One-way CfD15

Award date 04/01/2017 04/27/2018

Project name Borkum Riffgrund 

West 2 Gode Wind 3 He Dreiht OWP West Borkum Riffgrund West 1 Gode Wind 4

Capacity (MW) 240 110 900 240 420 132

Winning bidder Ørsted Ørsted EnBW Ørsted Ørsted Ørsted

COD 2024 2023 2025 2024 2024 2025

Distance from shore (km) 67 39 85 58 53 42

Water depth (m) 29–31 30–34 39 29–33 29–31 30–34

Duration (years) 20 20

Government development 

support Predevelopment by German Maritime and Hydrography Agency Predevelopment by German Maritime 

and Hydrography Agency

Government grid connection 

support Transmission system operator (TenneT) Transmission system operator 

(TenneT)

Government support for 

negative wholesale prices No support for periods of >6 consecutive hours No support for periods of >6 

consecutive hours

Lease duration 25 (with 5-year extension option) 25 (with 5-year extension option)

Inflation-indexed No No

Nonexecution penalty ($/kW) ~112 ~112

Auction price (2016$/MWh) 0 65 0 0 0 118

Adjusted auction price 

(2016$/MWh)14 ~81 ~78 ~83 ~80 ~79 ~115
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 52

Auction Pricing Trends (continued)

United Kingdom

16 A two-way CfD award provides a guaranteed price floor at which generation is compensated during the length of the contract term; 

if the wholesale price falls above the guaranteed price floor, the generator is compensated at the guaranteed price floor level 

(upside capped). 

17 Adjusted auction price was estimated by calculating levelized revenue of energy, as described in Beiter et al. (forthcoming).

Source: Smart (2017)

Auction Contract for Difference Round 2 Auction

Award type Two-sided CfD16

Award date September 11, 2017

Project name Triton Knoll Hornsea 2 Moray East

Capacity (MW) 860 1,386 950

Winning bidder Innogy/Statkraft Ørsted EDPR/Engie

COD 2021/2022 2022/2023 2022/2023

Distance from shore (km) 33 100 30

Water depth (m) 13‒30 25‒67 39‒50

Duration (years) 15

Government development support No

Government support for negative wholesale prices No

Lease duration (years) 25

Inflation-indexed Yes

Auction price (2017$/MWh) 127 98 98

Adjusted auction price (2016$/MWh)17 127 98 98

Cost and 

Pricing Trends 5
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 53

Auction Pricing Trends (continued)

Netherlands

18 The Netherlands held a prebidding stage in December 2017, which prescribed the 2018 auction to be zero-subsidy and that projects were to be judged solely on 

their performance against a set of predefined selection criteria (offshoreWIND.biz 2017). 

19 An adjusted auction price was estimated by calculating levelized revenue of energy, as described in Beiter et al. (forthcoming) and by adding grid and development 

costs for direct comparison with projects across various jurisdictions.

2018 Auction

Award type Criteria-based18 (zero-subsidy)

Award date March 19, 2018

Project name Hollandse Kust Zuid III and IV

Capacity (MW) 700

Winning bidder Nuon/Vattenfall

COD 2022

Distance from shore (km) 22

Water depth (m) 17‒22

Duration (years) 15

Government development support Soil studies and Environmental Impact Assessment

Government grid connection support Transmission system operator (TenneT)

Government support for negative wholesale prices No support for periods of >6 consecutive hours

Inflation-indexed N/A

Nonexecution penalty ($/kW) $29/kW in first year 

Auction price (2017$/MWh) 0

Adjusted auction price (2016$/MWh)19 ~74

Cost and 

Pricing Trends 5
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 54

Capital Expenditures Cost and 

Pricing Trends 5

• Although CapEx increased between 2000 and 2015,20 this trend is expected to be reversed based on 

announced costs for future projects, which suggest a considerable decline between 2015 (observed) 

and 2025 (announced). The lowest CapEx of <$2,700/kW for projects installed in 2017 was reported 

for the Jiangsu Luneng Dongtai (200 MW) in China.

20 See Musial et al. (2017) for a discussion on drivers of changes in CapEx between 2000 and 2025.

Note: The size of the bubbles indicates project capacity (MW). Data are only shown for projects with reported CapEx and COD.

Capital Expenditures of Global Offshore Wind Projects by Commercial Operation Date and Project Capacity 

50 MW

Bubble size
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 55

Performance

COD

Reported Capacity Factor

Source for 2017 data: Knight and Campbell (2018) 

• Capacity factors have improved over time but exhibit considerable variance in any given year because 

of differences in technology and site conditions.

Cost and 

Pricing Trends 5

Global Offshore Wind Reported Capacity Factors by Commercial Operation Date
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 56

Financing

• Typical debt-to-equity ratios among Northern European projects have increased between 2006 and 

2017, which coincides with project derisking and growing investor confidence during this time period. 

A higher debt-to-equity ratio generally lowers project financing costs. 

Source: Reprinted from Green Giraffe (2016, 2018).

Note: Year 2008 not available from source.

Year Debt-to-Equity 

Ratio

2006‒2007 60:40

2009‒2011 65:35

2012‒2013 70:30

2014‒2015 70:30

2016‒2017 75:25

Cost and 

Pricing Trends 5
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 57

6 Technology Trends
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 58

Highlights

• Major turbine OEMs continue to pursue larger offshore wind turbines; the most prominent example 

available today is GE’s recently announced 12-MW Haliade-X turbine, but Siemens/Gamesa and 

Senvion have each announced 10-MW+ turbine ambitions while MHI Vestas has increased the 

nameplate capacity of its V164 platform to 9.5 MW.

• Turbine sizes in the 12–15 MW range are anticipated to be a key enabler of cost reductions that are 

driving the recent record-low auction results observed over the past 12–18 months.

• As turbines grow in size, the supply chain and turbine installation and servicing capabilities have been 

forced to keep pace, with an array of novel strategies and new solutions; a maturing U.S. market is 

pushing adaptation of these services to ensure Jones Act compliance with stated interest from 

multiple vessel suppliers.

• Monopile substructures dominate the global offshore wind market today. However, developers have 

announced they intend to deploy an increasingly varying array of substructure technologies to reduce 

costs as well as deal with deeper water depths and difficult geotechnical conditions. 

• Floating technology solutions took continued significant steps to large-scale commercialization with 

Equinor commissioning its Hywind project, the world’s first commercial floating offshore wind farm, in 

October 2017 off of Peterhead, Scotland. The project comprises five 6-MW Siemens Gamesa turbines 

on spar foundations and in waters that are more than 100 m deep.

Technology 

Trends 6
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 59

Highlights (continued)

• Advancement of storage technology is driving an increased interest in coupled offshore wind and 

storage projects; as part of the proposals submitted for the Massachusetts solicitations, Deepwater 

Wind proposed a potential partnership with Tesla for a 40-MW/144-MWh battery, and Bay State Wind 

proposed a partnership with NEC for a 55-MW/110-MWh battery system (Bay State Wind 2018b).

• The auction for the Dutch Borssele Wind Farm Site V (19 MW) revealed novel innovations on two 

9.5-MW turbines specifically in the planned “slip joint” technology, which connects the monopile and 

transition piece, as well as in plans to use “eco-designs” for scour protection. These innovations were 

proposed by the winning bidders, Two Towers consortium, composed of Van Oord, Green Giraffe BV, 

Investri Offshore BV, and MHI Vestas. The project is expected to be operational in 2021 (Van Oord 

2018).

• Industry interest in a transition to 66-kilovolt (kV) intra-array collector systems continued during 2017; 

the transition from 33-kV to 66-kV cables, transformers, and switchgears has been recognized as a 

necessary step for the offshore wind industry for reliability enhancements and cost of energy 

reduction and was supported by new investments from Siemens, ABB, JDR, and the Prysmian Group, 

among others.

• In Spain, a consortium led by Esteyco is preparing to test a self-installing turbine prototype called the 

Elican project; the approach is anticipated to eliminate the need for specialized installation vessels. 

• Semi-taut angled mooring lines are being pioneered by companies such as SBM and GICON to provide 

the ability to reduce the length and size of moorings for floating platforms with larger turbines.

Technology 

Trends 6
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 60

Turbine Technology

Note: The total number of observations for years 2022‒2023 (COD) is relatively small (n<10 in a given year), introducing some uncertainty with regards to 

future average turbine rating, which may vary by jurisdiction.

Technology 

Trends 6

• The capacity-weighted average turbine rating installed in 2017 was 5.3 MW, with an average rotor 

diameter of 141 m and a 98-m hub height. Based on our sample, by the mid-2020s average turbine 

rating is anticipated to approach 10 MW, with the potential to exceed 11 MW later in the decade as 

informed by initial data for projects with an expected COD in the period of 2023‒2025.

Global Turbines Capacities, Rotor Diameters, and Hub Heights by Installation Year

COD

Capacity-weighted average turbine rating

( )
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 61

Turbine Technology (continued)

• On March 1, 2018, GE Renewable Energy unveiled a 12-MW Haliade-X offshore wind 

turbine that has been announced with the following specifications (GE [2018a, 

2018b]; Recharge Wind [2018a]):

 Rated power of 12 MW

 Rotor diameter of 220 m; 107-m blade

 Total height of 260 m from transition piece to blade tip

 Power production of 65 gigawatt-hours a year (capacity factor of 63%) for typical German North 

Sea sites (GE 2018b)

 Announced CapEx savings of $26 million per turbine per 100 MW when compared with previous 

Haliade model, which had a rated power of 6 MW and a rotor diameter of 150 m

 Investment includes $57 million in the Saint-Nazaire, France, facilities to adapt them to Haliade-X 

nacelle assembly and $93 million in the Cherbourg, France, facilities for tooling, blade molds, 

assembly line, and blade development

 GE Renewable Energy aims to supply its first nacelle for demonstration in 2019 and ship the first 

units in 2021.

• Senvion is developing a 10-MW+ turbine and announced that a prototype will be 

ready in late 2019 or early 2020 (offshoreWIND.biz 2018). 

• Siemens Gamesa has announced that it is planning to release a 10-MW+ turbine 

(Recharge Wind 2018b). 

Technology 

Trends 6
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 62

Turbine Technology (continued)

• Focusing on the operating fleet, Siemens/Gamesa holds a dominant position with a market share of 

more than 68% of installed turbine capacity, and MHI Vestas maintains a significant minority share 

at 15%. Looking ahead, Siemens/Gamesa, MHI Vestas, and GE are expected to capture more than 

85% of the known pipeline.

Technology 

Trends 6

Global Offshore Wind Turbine Market Share by OEM
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 63

Site Characteristics Technology 

Trends 6

• The majority of installed projects around the world are located in water depths of <40 m and <50 km 

from shore. While most developers still prefer to build projects in shallow water close to shore to 

minimize cost, some developers have been able to build bankable projects that are in deeper waters 

further from shore. 

50 MW

Bubble size

Global Offshore Wind Projects as a Function of Water Depth and Distance to Shore

Note: Data are only shown for projects with reported distance to shore (up to 200 km) and water depth (up to 60 m).
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 64

Substructure Technology Technology 

Trends 6

• Nearly 80% of globally installed substructures are monopiles. As the industry has begun to expand 

beyond Northern Europe and into locations with more diverse site characteristics, the announced 

project pipeline indicates increasing penetration for floating substructures as well as increasing 

diversity among fixed-bottom substructures.

Global Offshore Wind Substructure Market Share by Type
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 65

Vessel and Marine Logistics

• Larger turbines are expected to stretch the capabilities of current offshore installation vessels, 

especially for offshore projects placed in deeper waters.

• Development of new offshore wind turbine vessel concepts, including wind turbine shuttle vessels, 

has continued; this trend allows for more assembly work at port and more efficient offshore 

transportation and installation at sea (Huisman 2018). 

Source: Reprinted from Zentech (2017) 

• As the U.S. market matures, pressure is increasing for 

companies to build Jones-Act-compliant turbine 

installation vessels capable of installing 12-MW turbines; 

Zentech/Renewable Resources International, AllCoast/AK 

Suda, and Aelous Energy Group have announced plans to 

deploy U.S.-flagged turbine installation vessels for projects 

with CODs around 2022 but have not yet initiated 

construction of these vessels.

• There is a persistent push to improve the U.S. port 

infrastructure and manufacturing capabilities supporting 

offshore wind components, installation, and maintenance.

Technology 

Trends 6
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 66

Electrical Infrastructure Advancements

• According to Siemens, there are potential savings of up to 15% in the cost of the offshore collector 

systems when using 66-kV cables relative to 33-kV cables. Although project-specific results depend on 

distance between turbines, soil conditions, and overall project capacity, this potential cost savings is 

expected across a substantial majority of future offshore wind power plants, and the industry 

continues to work diligently to realize the opportunity. 

• In 2017, ABB announced its latest innovation in transformer technology, with the 66-kV WindStar 

transformer, which can fit into the tower of an offshore wind turbine (ABB 2018). The first ABB 

WindSTAR transformer was supplied to MHI Vestas; an additional five ABB transformers will be used at 

the Blyth Offshore Demonstrator, a 42.5-MW five-turbine plant that will be the first demonstration of 

66-kV cables in the United Kingdom (ABB 2017). ABB also provided eleven 66-kV transformers to be 

used in wind turbine generators at the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre.

• JDR was awarded a contract by VBMS (of the United Kingdom) to supply a 66-kV intra-array cable for 

ScottishPower Renewables East Anglia One offshore wind power plant—the world’s first commercial 

application of 66-kV technology (JDR 2017a). This project includes 155 km of 66-kV intra-array cables 

(JDR 2017a). JDR was also awarded a contract for the first 66-kV dynamic cables application for a 25-

MW floating wind plant off the coast of Viana de Castelo in Portugal (JDR 2017b).

• Prysmian Group announced the capability to manufacture both 33-kV and 66-kV cables at its 

production facility in Wrexham, United Kingdom (Prysmian Group 2017). Prysmian confirmed the 

successful completion of type testing for 66-kV cables as part of the Carbon Trust’s Offshore Wind 

Accelerator Programme.

• Siemens continued development of a full 66-kV solution for its direct-drive 6-, 7-, and 8-MW wind 

turbine generators. The high-voltage solution includes a 66-kV transformer, switchgear, and cable 

in-between, and will be used alongside JDR’s intra-array cables at the East Anglia One offshore 

wind farm.

Technology 

Trends 6
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 67

7 Floating Wind Energy
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 68

Floating Project Pipeline Floating Wind 

Energy 7

• Floating wind is a subset of 

offshore wind energy evolving 

out of commercial fixed-bottom 

offshore wind technologies, but 

is at a precommercial stage.

• Fifty-eight percent of the U.S. 

technical resource area is in 

waters where floating wind will 

work best.

• Floating substructures are 

buoyant platforms that are 

moored to the seafloor and less 

constrained by water depth.

• Currently, several floating 

offshore wind energy platform 

archetypes are being developed 

for precommercial projects.

Three floating offshore wind energy platform archetypes derived from oil and gas 

experience guide the development of the next generation of optimized floating wind 

energy systems. Illustration by Joshua Bauer, NREL 

Tension leg
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 69

Floating Project Pipeline Floating Wind 

Energy 7

United States

• BOEM, state officials, and developers continue to plan for the deployment of commercial floating 

offshore wind energy projects off the Pacific Coast. RCEA signed a public-private partnership with 

an industry consortium led by Principle Power LLC to submit an unsolicited lease proposal to BOEM 

in summer 2018 for a project off the coast of Humboldt Bay, California (RCEA 2018). 

• Offshore wind industry developers are working with DOD, BOEM, and the state of California to 

resolve potential conflicts with military operations, training, and radar over a wide portion of the 

OCS off central California where offshore wind development is being considered. There are similar 

potential conflicts off Hawaii. 

• On June 12, 2018, the Maine Public Utilities Commission voted to review the terms of the power 

contract for the 12-MW Maine Aqua Ventus two-turbine demonstration project off Monhegan Island 

(4COffshore 2018). Aqua Ventus is one of the two active DOE Offshore Wind Advanced Technology 

Demonstration Projects. If built, it would be the first floating wind project in the United States using 

megawatt-scale wind turbines. 
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 70

Floating Project Pipeline Floating Wind 

Energy 7

Global

• The pipeline of planned projects remains relatively constant from 2016 to the present, with 2,711 MW 

total proposed globally as the industry prepares for the deployment of the precommercial pilot phase, 

which consists of about 11 projects.

• Floating technology took significant steps toward commercialization in October 2017 with Equinor 

commissioning their 30-MW Equinor/Masdar Hywind-II project, the world’s first commercial floating 

offshore wind farm off Peterhead, Scotland. The project comprises five 6-MW Siemens Gamesa 

turbines on spar platforms in waters more than 100 m deep. The project achieved a capacity factor of 

65% in its first 3 months of operation (November‒January) (Equinor 2018).

• As part of the European Commission’s ReaLCoE project, Senvion, Principle Power, and 12 other 

entities partnered to develop floating wind systems capable of supporting offshore wind turbines that 

are 10 MW or larger by 2021 (Davidson and Weston 2018).

• Ideol’s Floatgen 2-MW demonstration project was assembled in port, towed to sea, moored to the 

seafloor at Le Croisic (France), and connected to the grid in May 2018. 
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 71

Floating Wind Commercialization Floating Wind 

Energy 7

Photo: Equinor Scotland

5 Turbines, 30 MW Øyvind 

Gravås / Woldcam - Statoil 

ASA

Proof-of-Concept Phase 

2009‒2016

6 full-scale prototypes totaling about 20 MW 

2- to 7-MW turbines

Precommercial Phase 

2017‒2023

Multiturbine commercial arrays

12- to 50-MW projects 

11 projects totaling 229 MW

Commercial Floating Arrays 

2024 and beyond

400 MW+ arrays proposed

Alpha Wind (Hawaii)

Principle Power (Hawaii/California) 

Progression (Hawaii)

Equinor (TBD) 

Trident Wind (California)

Dyfed/Kantanes (United Kingdom)

Sources: (from left to right): Windfair 2015 (first three); Principle Power, Inc., Statoil, NREL

Source: Equinor

Source: Principle Power, Inc.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 72

Global Pipeline for Floating Projects Floating Wind 

Energy 7

• The first floating offshore wind farm commenced commercial operation in 2017, indicating a transition 

from proof-of-concept, single-turbine deployments to multiturbine, precommercial pilot projects. Fifty-five 

megawatts of floating projects are installed or currently under construction.

Developer-Announced Global Floating Offshore Wind Pipeline

Note: Projects that are included in the graph but not labeled include GICON SOF Pilot (Germany), Faraman (France), FLOCAN5 (Spain), and Leucate (France).
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 73

Global Pipeline for Floating Projects Floating Wind 

Energy 7

Installed Project Under Development Project

Project COD Lead Organization Status Country

Turbine 

Capacity 

(MW)

Project 

Capacity 

(MW)

Water 

Depth 

(m)

Foundation 

Type

Americas

Aqua Ventus I 2020 U Maine Permitting United States 6 12 100 Semisubmersible

Oahu Northwest Lease 

Request 2024 Alpha Offshore Wind Planning United States 6‒8 408 850 Semisubmersible

Oahu South Lease 

Request 2024 Alpha Offshore Wind Planning United States 6‒8 408 600 Semisubmersible

Progression 2024 Progression Energy Planning United States 8+ 400 650 Semisubmersible

Morro Bay Offshore Wind 2024 Trident Energy Planning United States 8+ 765 900 Semisubmersible

Asia

Kabashima/Goto 2013 MOE Installed 

(Decommissioned in 2015) Japan 2 2 91 Spar

Fukushima Forward I 2013 METI Installed Japan 2 2 120 Semisubmersible

Fukushima Forwad II -

MHI 2015 METI Installed Japan 7 7 120 Semisubmersible

Fukushima Forward II -

Hitachi 2017 METI Installed Japan 5 5 120 Spar

Kitakyushu NEDO Next 

Generation Demo 2018 NEDO Under Construction Japan 3 3 75 Barge

WindFloat Japan 2019 Principle Power, NEDO Planning Japan 5 5 70 Semisubmersible
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 74

Installed Project Under Development Project

Project COD Lead Organization Status Country

Turbine 

Capacity 

(MW)

Project 

Capacity 

(MW)

Water 

Depth (m) Foundation Type

Europe

Floatgen 2018 Gamesa/Ideol Under Construction France 2 2 30 Barge

Les éoliennes flottantes de 

Groix & Belle-Île (La Groix) 2020 Eolfi Permitting France 6.15 24.6 60 Semisubmersible

Provence Grand Large 

(Faraman) 2020 EDF Planning France 8 24 99 Tension-leg 

platform

EolMed (Gruissan) 2021 Quadren/Ideol/Bouygues Planning France 6.15 24.6 70 Barge

Les éoliennes flottantes du 

Golfe du Lion (Leucate) 2021 Engie/EDPR/CDC Planning France 6 24 70.5 Semisubmersible

Hywind Scotland 2017 Statoil Installed United Kingdom 6 30 100 Spar

Dounreay Trì 2020 Highland and Islands 

Enterprise Approved United Kingdom 6‒8 10 85 Two-turbine semisubmersible

Kincardine 2020 Pilot Offshore Renewables Approved United Kingdom 6 50 62 Semisubmersible 

spar hybrid

Dyfed Floating Energy 2022 Floating Power Plant Planning United Kingdom 5‒8 224 85 Semisubmersible 

Katanes Floating Pilot 2022 Floating Power Plant Planning United Kingdom 7‒8 8 80 Semisubmersible 

Katanes Floating 

Commercial 2024 Floating Power Plant Planning United Kingdom 8‒8 216 80 Semisubmersible 

WindFloat I 2011 Principle Power

Installed 

(Decommissioned in 

2016)

Portugal 2 2 50 Semisubmersible

WindFloat Atlantic 2019 Principle Power Approved Portugal 8.33 25 100 Semisubmersible

Hywind 1 Demo 2009 Statoil Installed Norway 2.3 2.3 220 Spar

GICON Pilot 2019 Gicon Financial Close Germany 2.3 2.3 20 Tension-leg 

platform

FLOCAN5 2021 Canary Islands Government Permitting Spain 5‒8 25 85 Semi-spar

Global Pipeline for Floating Projects Floating Wind 

Energy 7
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 75

8 Additional Resources
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 76

Additional Resources

Data

• 4COffshore: http://www.4coffshore.com/windfarms/request.aspx?id=owfdb

• Renewables Consulting Group: Global Renewable Infrastructure Projects database: 

https://thinkrcg.com/data-services/

• BOEM, Renewable Energy: https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/

Research

• NYSERDA Master Plan: https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Programs/Offshore-Wind/New-YorkOffshore-Wind-Master-Plan

• Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Technical Report: Estimating the Value of Offshore Wind 

Along the United States’ Eastern Coast

Additional Organizations

• Business Network for Offshore Wind: https://www.offshorewindus.org/

• The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center: http://www.masscec.com/

• NYSERDA: https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/

• American Wind Energy Association: http://www.awea.org/
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 77

9 References
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 78

References

Data Sources

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 Bloomberg New Energy Finance. 2018. Renewable Energy Project Database. https://about.bnef.com/.

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 Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. 2018e. “Maryland Activities.” Accessed May 2018. https://www.boem.gov/state-activities-maryland/. 
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 79

References (continued)

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 80

References (continued)

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 81

References (continued)

 New York State. 2017. “Governor Cuomo presents 25th Proposal of 2017 State of the State: Nation’s Largest Offshore Wind Energy Project Off 

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 NYSERDA. 2018. “New York State Offshore Wind Master Plan.” Accessed May 2018. https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/AllPrograms/Programs/Offshore-Wind/New-York-Offshore-Wind-Master-Plan.

 New York State Department of Public Service. 2018. “Dockett 18-00265/18-E-0071” 

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 Office of the Governor. 2018. “Rhode Island and Massachusetts Announce Largest Procurement of Offshore Wind in Nation’s History.” RI.gov. 

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 82

References (continued)

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY 83

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