Research groups estimate that costs could drop from about $200 per megawatt-hour to between $58 and $120 by 2030. That would leave floating offshore wind more expensive than solar and onshore wind, but could still play an important role in a global energy portfolio. .
Technology is also improving. The turbines keep going up, generating more electricity and revenue from anywhere. Some research groups and companies are also developing new types of floating platforms and delivery mechanisms that could make it easier to work within the constraints of ports and bridges.
The Danish company Stiesdal has developed a modular, floating platform with a keel that does not fall into place until it is in the deep ocean, allowing it to be towed from relatively shallow ports.
Meanwhile, San Francisco startup Aikido Technologies is developing a way to send turbines horizontally and then invert them deep in the ocean, allowing the structures to rise under bridges en route. The company believes its designs provide enough authorization for developers to access any port in the US. About 80% of these ports have height limits due to bridges or airport restrictions.
Several federal, state, and local organizations are conducting assessments of California and other U.S. ports, assessing which may be best positioned to serve floating wind projects and what improvements might be needed to make that possible.
Government policies in the United States, the European Union, China and elsewhere also provide incentives to develop offshore wind turbines, domestic manufacturing and supporting infrastructure. That includes the Inflation Reduction Act that Biden signed into law this summer.
Finally, regarding California’s permitting challenges, Hochschild notes that the same 2021 law that requires the state’s energy commission to set offshore wind goals also requires it to conduct long-term planning necessary to achieve them. This includes designing a strategy to streamline the approval process.
For all the promise of floating wind, there’s no doubt that making sure it’s cost-competitive and meeting its intended goals will require making massive investments in infrastructure, manufacturing and more, and building large projects at a pace the state can’t handle. has shown able in the recent past.
If it succeeds, however, California could become a leading player in a critical new clean energy sector, harnessing its vast coastal resources to meet its ambitious climate goals.
