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Offshore Wind Energy Overview Patrick GilmanEnvironmental & Siting SpecialistWind and Water Power Program

February 16, 2011

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Agenda

1. Overview of offshore wind technology2. National Offshore Wind Strategy3. DOE offshore wind research plan

– Removing Market Barriers solicitation– Research plan– Interagency collaboration

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Offshore Wind: Huge Potential

Great Lakes: 734 GW

Pacific: 930 GW

Atlantic: 1256 GW

Gulf Coast: 594 GWHawaii: 637 GW

Total gross resource potential does not consider exclusion zones or siting concerns

Proposed project

Europe: 3 GW offshore wind installed, 3 GW under construction, 20 GW permitted

China: 135 MW installed, 2 GW authorized

US: 2.4 GW proposed

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Energy Environment EconomyLarge renewable resource close to load (1070 GW in shallow waters; 4150 GW total)

Reduced GHG emissions (2.7 M tons CO2

emissions avoided / GW / year)

Jobs manufacturing, installing, operating, and maintaining systems (54 GW of offshore = 43,000 permanent jobs)

Availability matches peak load (28 coastal states consume 78% of electricity)

Reduced water consumption (81 billion gallons saved annually)

Economic recovery and industrial development (1 GW offshore = $4.2B investment)

Energy diversity & security

Reduced need for new land-based transmission

Potential for cost-competitive electricity in high-price markets

Offshore Wind Benefits

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Environmental Impacts of Offshore Wind

• Wide range of potential impacts, little U.S. data: – Benthic communities– Bird and bat mortality– Construction and operation noise– Migratory displacement– EMF effects– Human: cultural, socioeconomic

• Substantial European experience: 350+ studies, no showstoppers identified

From the Final Report of Danish Monitoring Program, 2006:“…offshore wind power is indeed possible to engineer in an environmentally sustainable manner that does not lead to significant damage to nature.…the prospects for future expansion of offshore wind farms look bright.”

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Offshore Wind Turbine Components

Blades

Tower

Nacelle

Transition Piece

Rotor Hub

Gearbox Generator

Foundation

Evolution of Foundation

Designs

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Evolution of Commercial Wind Technology

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• Announced by Secretary of Energy Chu and Secretary of the Interior Salazar on 2/7/2011

• Developed over 7+ months with input from federal partners, industry, stakeholders, and public

• Demonstrates strong commitment by federal government to developing offshore wind energy resources in a responsible manner

• Leverages capabilities, expertise, and funding of individual agencies to increase federal government’s ability to accelerate responsible offshore wind deployment

National Offshore Wind Strategy

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/pdfs/national_offshore_wind_strategy.pdf

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Key Points of National Strategy

1. Offshore wind can create substantial benefits for the nation:– Reduced GHG emissions– Diversified energy supply– Economic revitalization

2. The challenges facing offshore wind deployment are daunting: – High capital & financing costs– Lack of specialized infrastructure– Lack of site data and experience with permitting processes

3. To realize these benefits in spite of the challenges, DOE will:– Reduce the levelized cost of energy from 26.9 ¢/kWh to 7 ¢/kWh by 2030– Help reduce market barriers: environmental impacts, infrastructure, transmission– Partner in the installation of the first demonstration-scale projects

4. Understanding and mitigating environmental impacts of offshore wind are critical to this strategy

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DOE Offshore Wind Funding Opportunities: $50.5 million, 5 years

• Technology Development FOA (up to $25M, 5 years)– Long-term technology R&D to reduce cost of offshore wind energy

• Market Barriers Removal FOA (up to $18M, 3 years)– Research to close data gaps needed for project permitting; expand knowledge base on

offshore wind environmental effects; develop strategies & planning for long-term industry cost-competitiveness

– Topics:1. Offshore wind market & economic analysis2. Environmental & socioeconomic risk reduction:

– Mid-Atlantic Baseline Study, Environmental Monitoring Methods and Technologies3. Manufacturing & supply chain development4. Transmission planning & interconnect strategies5. Ports, vessels & operations6. Wind energy resource characterization & design conditions7. Marine navigation & communications equipment impacts

• Next-Generation On/Offshore Drivetrain FOA (up to $7.5M, 3 years)– Develop core technologies for next-generation turbines, ensuring competitiveness of

domestic OEMs

• More to come – Stay tuned

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1. Baseline environmental data collection and analysis

2. Developing the necessary technologies and methods to assess and monitor environmental impacts

3. Before-After-Control-Impact type studies on actual wind farms from site assessment through operations to identify specific impacts

4. Development of avoidance and mitigation measures

5. Studies on cumulative impacts of large-scale deployment

Environmental Research Plan

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• DOE can’t go it alone: collaboration with federal & state agencies, NGOs and other stakeholders is essential

• We’re ready to partner: DOE is eager to work with other agencies to meet these challenges

A Call to Action

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Thank You

Patrick GilmanEnvironmental & Siting SpecialistDOE Wind and Water Power Program202-586-3449Patrick.gilman@ee.doe.gov