The U.S. Department of Energy released a report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), which comprehensively analyzes the key factors impacting the deployment of offshore wind power in the U.S.
The report, "Large-Scale Offshore Wind Power in the United States: Assessment of Opportunities and Barriers," includes a detailed assessment of the Nation’s offshore wind resources and offshore wind industry, including future job growth potential. The report also analyzes the technology challenges, economics, permitting procedures, and the potential risks and benefits of offshore wind power deployment in U.S. waters.
The NREL report finds that harnessing even a fraction of the Nation’s potential offshore wind resource, estimated to be more than 4,000 gigawatts, could create thousands of cleantech jobs and help revitalize America’s manufacturing sector, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, diversify U.S. energy supplies, and provide cost-competitive electricity to key coastal regions.
The report also reaches the conclusion that while significant challenges remain, effective research, policies and market commitment will enable offshore wind to play a significant role in the country’s energy future.
This week, the Department also highlighted its continued work with the U.S. Department of Interior to help facilitate and accelerate the deployment of offshore renewable energy technologies on the Outer Continental Shelf. In conjunction with the American Wind Energy Association’s North American Offshore Wind Conference, the agencies brought together a broad spectrum of federal agencies, state governments, nongovernmental organizations, and members of academia to discuss ongoing efforts that are leveraging resources and expertise from both Departments to help develop commercial-scale offshore wind and water energy projects. More information on these interagency initiatives is available online.
Third Grant for U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center
Separately, DOE announced that Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory will receive $12.5 million over the next five years to lead a consortium on energy-efficient building technologies under the U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center (CERC). T
he funding will be matched by the consortium partners to provide at least $25 million in total U.S. funding. Chinese counterparts will contribute an additional $25 million.
The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory will lead a consortium that includes Oak Ridge National Lab, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of California-Davis, the National Resources Defense Council, the Energy Foundation, ICF International, the National Association of State Energy Officials, the Association of State Energy Research and Technology Transfer Institutions, The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW), Honeywell (NYSE: HON), General Electric (NYSE: GE), Saint-Gobain (COD.L), Bentley, ClimateMaster, and Pegasus Capital Advisors.
In the United States, buildings account for nearly 40% of energy consumption and carbon emissions, and nearly half the new floor space built in the world every year is built in China. As such, the U.S. and China will play central roles in the world’s transition to an energy efficient building sector in the years ahead.
Two additional consortia were announced by Secretary Chu last month–one led by the University of Michigan to advance technologies for clean vehicles and one led by West Virginia University to focus on the next generation of coal technologies, including carbon capture and storage. Total funding for CERC, including private and public investments in both countries, will be at least $150 million.
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