Abstract
This study, funded under an interagency agreement between the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), is intended to provide BOEM with key information to inform their decision-making about current and future offshore wind energy leasing in the Central Atlantic region of the United States. The report will also benefit state governments, developers, research institutions, and the public who are seeking technical and market-based information about the unique aspects of offshore wind energy development along the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) of this region of the United States. The study provides a broad, top-level assessment of the key challenges and opportunities that are unique to offshore wind energy development in the Central Atlantic region. Specific BOEM Call Areas from the first round of planning in the Central Atlantic region (hereafter referred to as Central Atlantic 1 Call Areas) are shown in Figure ES-1. The research is based on the most current technology, deployment, and stakeholder information available to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The topics include assessing the physical environment; current leasing status and major stakeholder issues; state and federal energy policy; an assessment of future leasing requirements based on state targets; status and limitations of the technology; and supply chain status. The primary intent is to inform the readers about the prospects for deploying offshore wind energy in the designated deep-water Call Areas known as E and F, as identified by BOEM. The report makes recommendations regarding development in these regions.