Connecting certain offshore wind power projects using offshore transmission networks could decrease electricity expenses and lessen dependence on fossil fuels, according to Energy Department findings revealed to The Hill for the first time.
The study outcomes also suggest that this approach would enhance the overall dependability of the grid, according to an official from the Energy Department who spoke to The Hill. Researchers also discovered that the financial advantages of offshore transmission networking can exceed the costs by a ratio of up to 2-to-1.
The suggestions are part of a larger goal of the Biden administration to install 30 gigawatts of offshore wind development by the end of the decade, with installations across the East, West, and Gulf coasts.
However, a grid strength analysis carried out as part of the study also revealed potential downsides: In a scenario where 30 GW of offshore wind power is successfully implemented, 14 out of 24 points of interconnection (POIs) show weak grid-strength conditions.
“This doesn’t mean the assessed POIs are unfeasible, but it indicates that further research (and possibly additional investment) is necessary to guarantee stable and reliable operation of the offshore wind power plant (or any inverter-based resource) under weak grid conditions,” stated the researchers.
“Offshore wind energy is already supplying power to over 100,000 homes along the East Coast, and has the potential to grow and further improve grid reliability and reduce even more fossil fuels,” stated Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm in a statement to The Hill. “The Atlantic Offshore Wind Transmission Study and the Action Plan demonstrate the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to advancing offshore wind development along the nation’s coastlines, which will stimulate domestic manufacturing and create jobs for tens of thousands as we address the climate crisis.”
The study comes a week after New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) announced the launch of the state’s first offshore wind farm. The administration also approved what would be the largest offshore wind project off the coast of Virginia to date in October.
