The United States is aiming to generate 30 gigawatts of electricity through offshore wind energy by 2030 — a goal set by the administration of outgoing President Joe Biden. While a few projects are already up and running, more are under construction and the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is actively leasing offshore areas and approving new projects to further support this growth. With U.S. offshore wind capacity set to grow rapidly over the next few years, we take stock of where things are now and where they are expected to go. This is the first in a series of status updates on global offshore wind development.
Up and running
Block Island Wind Farm
Commissioning date: December 2016
Status: Online
Overview
Developed by Deepwater Wind, now part of Denmark-based Ørsted, the Block Island Wind Farm is located off the coast of Block Island in the state of Rhode Island.
The project falls within the Rhode Island Renewable Energy Zone — an offshore area about two kilometres wide designated for optimal renewable energy development. The project cost approximately US$300 million.
Technical details
The wind farm has a total capacity of 30 megawatts (MW) of electricity, generated by five turbines that each have a capacity of six MW. Annually, the farm produces approximately 125,000 megawatt-hours of energy, which is sufficient to power around 17,000 homes.
Significance
As the first offshore wind farm in the United States, the Block Island Wind Farm is a landmark project in the country’s renewable energy landscape. Since its commissioning, it has played a crucial role in enhancing Rhode Island’s renewable energy portfolio, helping the state achieve a 30 per cent renewable energy mix by 2020. The project has reduced carbon dioxide emissions by about 40,000 metric tons per year, primarily by replacing the island’s diesel generators that burned over a million gallons of fuel annually. This reduction is relatively small compared to the state’s total emissions of 9.24 million metric tons as of 2020.
South Fork Wind Farm
Commissioning date: March 2024
Status: Online
Overview
Developed by Ørsted in partnership with Boston-based energy provider Eversource, the South Fork Wind Farm is located in U.S. federal waters approximately 56 kilometres east of Montauk, N.Y. As New York’s first offshore wind farm, the project cost about $2 billion and represents a significant investment in renewable energy.
Technical details
The wind farm has a total capacity of 132 MW, generated by 12 Siemens Gamesa SG 11.0-200 DD turbines, each with a capacity of 11 MW. The annual energy production is projected to be sufficient to power approximately 70,000 households on New York’s Long Island. The turbines feature a rotor diameter of 200 metres and are supported by steel monopile foundations, installed in a grid layout with approximately 1.9 kilometres spacing. Using larger rotor diameters enhances turbine performance and efficiency by enabling generation of more power from available wind resources. It also helps turbines operate effectively even in areas with lower wind speeds. The reliability and stability of turbines in challenging marine environments is important, particularly when it comes to reducing risk of damage.
Significance
The first utility-scale offshore wind project in U.S. federal waters, the South Fork Wind Farm is key to New York’s goal of generating nine gigawatts (GW) of electricity from offshore wind by 2035. It aims to reduce fossil fuel reliance and will prevent an average of six million metric tons of carbon emissions annually over 25 years, equivalent to the yearly emissions produced by 60,000 cars.
Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind — Pilot project
Commissioning date: October 2020
Status: Online
Overview
(Stephen Boutwell/BOEM via Flickr)
The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) Pilot Project, developed by Dominion Energy, is located 43 kilometres off the coast of Virginia Beach, Va. It was set up as a precursor to a larger commercial-scale project in the mid-Atlantic region. Commissioned in October 2020, the pilot project cost approximately $300 million and was the first offshore wind project installed in federal waters. That required navigating a complex permitting process governed by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). This included extensive environmental assessments and public consultations, as well as a final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze potential environmental impacts and mitigation measures. It also needed to obtain an Incidental Take Authorization from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries, allowing for the incidental taking of marine mammals during construction.
Technical details
The project has two wind turbines, each with a capacity of six MW, for a total capacity of 12 MW. These turbines, standing at approximately 183 metres above sea level, are capable of generating up to 27,000 megawatt-hours of clean energy annually. Aside from producing renewable energy enough to power around 3,000 homes, the pilot project is reducing up to 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year.
Significance
The CVOW Pilot Project has provided valuable data and insights into offshore wind development in U.S. federal waters, informing the design of the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Commercial Project by helping to choose the right turbines, design sturdy foundations, and plan efficient maintenance for the larger, commercial project. It has served as a learning platform to test offshore wind technology, logistics, and maintenance in a real-world environment.
Under construction
Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind — Commercial project
Commissioning date: Expected in 2026
Status: Permit approved; construction underway
Overview
The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) commercial project, developed by Dominion Energy, is one of the largest planned offshore wind farms in the United States. Located about 43 kilometres off the coast of Virginia Beach, Va., this large-scale project is being built in phases and is expected to go online in 2026. The project is expected to cost approximately $9.8 billion.
Technical details
When fully completed, the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project will consist of 176 wind turbines, each with a capacity ranging from 14 to 16 MW. The total installed capacity will be about 2.6 GW. The project will cover an area of about 460 square kilometres in the Atlantic Ocean and will include three offshore substations, which will connect the wind farm to the existing electrical grid. It will utilize advanced turbine technology, including turbines that are 244 metres tall. CVOW will use the Siemens Gamesa SG 14-222 DD turbines. They are designed to withstand extreme weather conditions, including wind gusts up to 252 kilometres per hour and sustained winds of 180 kilometres per hour. These turbines are equipped with control systems that continuously monitor wind conditions and adjust the pitch of the blades to optimize performance and reduce stress during high wind events. Their height allows them to access stronger and more consistent winds at higher elevations. Dominion Energy says it based the design on a Category-2 hurricane, where wind speeds range from 154 to 177 kilometres per hour.
Significance
The CVOW project will generate enough clean energy to power up to 660,000 homes annually and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 3.7 million metric tons. As the largest offshore wind project in the Western Hemisphere upon completion, CVOW will play a crucial role in helping Virginia achieve its goal of 16 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2034, including 5.2 GW from offshore wind.
Vineyard Wind 1
Status: Permit approved; construction underway; completion expected by the end of 2024.
Overview
Located 24 kilometres south of Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., Vineyard Wind 1 is being developed by Vineyard Wind LLC, a joint venture between Avangrid Renewables (part of Iberdrola Group) and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP). The developers have raised at least $2.3 billion of debt to finance the project’s construction. The project sits in the MA WEA Lease OCS-A 0501 lease area, which is a designated offshore wind energy area about 675 square kilometres in size auctioned by BOEM for commercial development. The lease was awarded to Vineyard Wind LLC.
Technical details
Vineyard Wind 1 will feature 62 GE Haliade-X turbines, each with a capacity of 13 MW, for a total capacity of 800 MW. Haliade-X turbines have a rotor diameter of 220 metres. Their large size enables efficient wind energy capture, especially in inconsistent wind conditions. Each turbine features blades that are 107 metres long, which enhance energy generation at lower wind speeds. The project is expected to generate approximately 2.6 terawatt-hours (TWh) of clean electricity annually, enough to power over 400,000 homes and businesses in Massachusetts.
Significance
Vineyard Wind 1 will generate enough clean power in Massachusetts to reduce GHG emissions by about 1.68 million metric tons annually, equivalent to taking approximately 325,000 cars off the road. The state aims to achieve 3,600 MW of offshore wind capacity by 2027 and is targeting a 50 per cent reduction in GHG emissions by 2030 (compared to 1990 levels), with a goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.
There has been some turbulence along the way. Vineyard Wind 1 started supplying power to the New England grid in early 2024, operating 10 turbines that were delivering 136 MW for 64,000 homes. After a turbine blade collapsed, with debris washing ashore near Nantucket, operations were halted and the federal government ordered a suspension until cleanup and safety checks were completed.
Sunrise Wind
Status: Permit approved; construction underway; expected to enter commercial operation in 2025.
Overview
Sunrise Wind is a major offshore wind farm project located approximately 48 kilometres east of Montauk Point, N.Y., in the BOEM lease area OCS-A 0487. Designated for the project, the lease area spans about 336 square kilometres and was awarded to Sunrise Wind LLC, to develop the project. Developed by Ørsted and Eversource, it is estimated to cost around $3 billion. The project aims to support New York’s renewable energy goals and contribute to the local economy.
Technical details
With a capacity of 924 MW from about 84 SG 11.0-200 DD wind turbines, Sunrise Wind will generate enough clean energy to power approximately 600,000 homes annually.
Significance
As one of the largest offshore wind projects in the U.S., Sunrise Wind will play a crucial role in New York’s target of achieving 9,000 MW of offshore wind energy by 2035. It is also expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over a million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year. The state has set goals through its Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent from 1990 levels by 2030 and 85 per cent by 2050.
Revolution Wind
Status: Permit approved; construction underway; expected completion in 2025.
Overview
Revolution Wind, a collaborative project between Ørsted and Eversource, is located roughly 24 kilometres south of the Rhode Island coast and 51 kilometres southeast of Connecticut. This multi-state offshore wind farm is being developed within the federal waters of the outer continental shelf, adjacent to Ørsted’s South Fork Wind project. With a investment exceeding $1 billion, including infrastructure upgrades at ports like the State Pier in New London, Conn., the project is set to advance renewable energy for both states.
Technical details
Revolution Wind will have a total installed capacity of 704 MW generated by 65 wind turbines — 304 MW to Connecticut and 400 MW to Rhode Island. Annually, it is expected to produce around 2,700 gigawatt-hours of clean energy. That is enough to power over 350,000 homes across both states. This output will help cut annual emissions by about one million metric tons, contributing significantly to regional climate goals.
Significance
Revolution Wind is the first offshore wind farm in the U.S. designed to supply power to more than one state. A 20-year power purchase agreement was established between the project developers and utility companies in each state, allocating 400 MW of capacity to Rhode Island and 304 MW to Connecticut over the life of the contract.
The project has seen substantial investment in local infrastructure, including over $100 million in the redevelopment of the State Pier to serve as a hub for turbine assembly and staging. It also utilizes the first-ever American-built offshore wind service operations vessel, the ECO EDISON, which is based out of Rhode Island’s ProvPort during the construction phase.
MarWin
Status: Permit approved
Overview
MarWin is an offshore wind project being developed by US Wind, located approximately 27 kilometres off the coast of Ocean City, Md., within a federal lease area managed by the BOEM. The Biden administration approved the project, which is part of a phased development within US Wind’s 324 square-kilometres lease area, on Sept. 5, 2024.
Technical details
MarWin is set to have an installed capacity of 300 MW by using up to 22 offshore wind turbines. The project is set to generate approximately 1,100 gigawatt-hours of clean electricity annually, which is enough to power over 92,000 homes in Maryland. The turbines and other critical infrastructure will be manufactured and assembled locally at Sparrows Point Steel, a new offshore wind facility in Baltimore.
Significance
MarWin’s development is linked with US Wind’s broader plans for the region, which includes a potential build-out of up to two GW and further development of offshore wind infrastructure.
Momentum Wind
Status: Permit approved
Overview
Momentum Wind is an offshore wind project developed by US Wind, Inc., off the coast of Maryland. The project recently secured approval from the Biden administration and will be built in US Wind’s ederal lease area off the coast of Ocean City, Md., alongside the MarWin project mentioned above. This area has the potential to generate up to two GW of offshore wind energy when fully built out, positioning Momentum Wind as a major contributor to the state’s clean energy capacity.
Technical details
Momentum Wind will have a total installed capacity of approximately 809 MW, generate by up to 55 wind turbines located more than 24 kilometres from shore.
Significance
The wind farm is expected to produce enough clean energy to power over 250,000 Maryland homes a year. This would significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support the state’s goals to generate 50 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. That would amount to about 20,000 MW of renewable energy capacity when considering the state’s total electricity demand. Of this total, the state has set a specific target of 8.5 GW for offshore wind capacity by 2031, which will account for approximately 42.5 per cent of Maryland’s total renewable energy generation target.
Empire Wind 1
Status: Permit approved; construction underway; expected to go online in 2026.
Overview
Owned by Equinor, the Empire Wind 1 project is located off the coast of Long Island, N.Y., within the New York Bight. The project will consist of a lease area covering 324 square kilometres in the federally designated offshore wind area.
(Eirik Hamre Clausen/Equinor)
Technical details
Empire Wind 1 will have a capacity of 816 MW, utilizing up to 57 wind turbines — 54 of them V236-15.0 MW from Vestas. The turbines will be installed on monopile foundations, suitable for the seabed conditions of the project site. The energy produced will be transmitted to the New York grid via a subsea cable.
Significance
Expected to start delivering power to New York City starting in late 2026, Empire Wind 1 will generate enough clean energy to power 500,000 homes and help reduce emissions in line with the state’s goal of 70 per cent renewable electricity by 2030 – with the state targeting a total of 9,000 MW of offshore wind capacity by 2035.
Atlantic Shores South
Status: Permit approved in August 2024
Overview
Atlantic Shores South is an offshore wind energy development comprising two projects (Project 1 and Project 2), located approximately 14 kilometres off the coast of New Jersey, between Atlantic City and Long Beach Island. The projects are part of the Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind portfolio, developed through a joint venture between Shell New Energies US LLC and EDF Renewables North America. The project is situated in an approved lease area in federal waters. The Associated Press has reported that Atlantic Shores is seeking to rebid the financial terms of its project, which the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities is allowing companies to do.
Technical details
The project will have a capacity of up to 2,800 MWof electricity, generated by up to 200 wind turbines, with the power produced to be transmitted via subsea cables to the New Jersey grid.
Significance
The project is expected to generate enough electricity to power over a million homes and is a crucial part of New Jersey’s strategy to achieve 100 per cent clean energy by 2035. According to the state’s Energy Master Plan, this goal involves expanding offshore wind capacity to 11,000 MW, increasing solar capacity to 17,000 MW, along with contributions from nuclear and other clean energy sources.
New England Wind 1
Status: Construction and operations plan approved by the BOEM.
Overview
New England Wind 1 will be developed by Avangrid in the federal lease area OCS-A-0534, about 37 kilometres south of Martha’s Vineyard and 44 kilometres southwest of Nantucket, Mass.
Technical details
The project will have a capacity of up to 800 MW and will include up to 65 wind turbine generators, several electrical service platforms, and offshore export cables to transmit electricity to onshore transmission systems in Massachusetts.
Significance
New England Wind 1 is expected to produce enough clean electricity to power approximately 400,000 homes and will work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to removing 300,000 gasoline-powered cars from the road every year.
New England Wind 2
Status: Construction and operations plan approved by the BOEM.
Overview
New England Wind 2 is planned to be developed in the southern portion of federal lease area OCS-A-0534.
Technical details
The New England Wind 2 project is designed to have a total capacity of up to 1,232 MW. The project will involve the installation of up to 64 wind turbine generators, several electrical service platforms, and offshore export cables to transmit electricity to onshore substations.
Significance
Once developed and fully commissioned, the project will have the potential to power over 450,000 homes annually.
Waiting for permits
SouthCoast Wind
The SouthCoast Wind offshore project, owned by Ocean Winds, is located over 48 kilometres south of Martha’s Vineyard and 32 kilometres south of Nantucket, Mass. It aims for a capacity of 2,400 MW, enough to power over one million homes. Still in the permitting phase, the project is expected to offset about four million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually once fully completed and operational.
Beacon Wind 1 and Beacon Wind 2
These offshore wind projects are located about 32 kilometres southwest of Nantucket, Mass. Beacond Wind 1 (BW1) aims to generate 1,230 MW of renewable energy for New York, while Beacon Wind 2 (BW2) is expected to generate 1,200 MW.
Bluepoint Wind
Bluepoint Wind is an offshore wind project planned in the New York Bight, covering a lease area of 290 square kilometres awarded by the BOEM in February 2022. The project site is located about 60 kilometres from New York and 85 kilometres from New Jersey. Bluepoint Wind is currently in the Site Assessment Plan phase, awaiting approval from BOEM to proceed with its Construction and Operations Plan (COP).
Leading Light Wind
The proposed site for Leading Light Wind, an offshore wind project from Chicago-based Invenergy and New York-based energyRE, is 65 kilometres off Long Beach Island, N.J. The wind farm is expected to have 100 turbines that would generate enough electricity for more than one million homes, but its developers have been struggling to find a blade manufacturer. On Sept. 25, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities approved a pause on the project through Dec. 20 to allow more time to seek a supplier. Once completed, the project is expected to reduce annual carbon missions by 4.1 million metric tons.
