Of 11 Offshore Wind Energy Farms in the World, Only One Is in the U.S.

Herman K. Trabish shares the findings of a new report from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on the scope of the offshore energy industry around the world and in the United States.

"There were 111 operating offshore wind projects around the world at the end of 2016 and, though only one was in U.S. waters, the world’s biggest developers are setting up U.S. shops," reports Trabish. Out of 12,913 megawatts of installed capacity offshore wind energy capacity, the United State accounts for only 30 megawats.

If projects in the development pipeline pan out, the United States will have a much more perceptible footprint in the world's offshore win energy portfolio, according to Trabish. "The 593 offshore wind projects in the global development pipeline at the end of 2016 represented an estimated 231,000 MW of potential capacity. The U.S. project development pipeline included 28 projects, representing 24,135 MW of potential capacity. That’s 10% of the action in a U.S. market that is barely open."