The US Department of Energy (DOE) has released the Atlantic Offshore Wind Transmission Study, a two-year study evaluating transmission options to support offshore wind energy deployment along the Atlantic Coast of the United States. The study was based on deploying 85 GW of offshore wind off the Atlantic Coast by 2050, and it analysed various potential scenarios for offshore transmission considering the costs and benefits of each pathway, providing a multi-regional planning perspective.
According to the report, connecting offshore wind platforms together to create transmission networks outweighs the costs, when compared with each project having its own isolated transmission connections. It would also reduce generation from fossil-fired power units by 5.5–9.2 TWh/year in 2050, while increasing the grid reliability and ensuring minimal oceanic ecosystem disruptions. The study also identifies potentially feasible transmission corridors and suggests early implementation of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technology standards to support new transmission and facilitate future network expansion. Finally, it recommends building offshore transmission in phases to help reduce development risk.
The US aims to reach 30 GW of offshore wind energy by 2030 and unlocking a pathway to 110 GW or more by 2050.
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