DOE Holds Offshore Wind Webinars

The U.S. Energy Department held a live webcast titled “Economic Impacts of Offshore Wind−Market, Manufacturing, & Jobs” on Wednesday, November 19. 

Bruce Hamilton from Navigant Consulting Inc. presented Offshore Wind Market Report. This presentation summarized the third annual assessment of the U.S. offshore wind market, which includes developments in the offshore wind technology sector and the global development of offshore wind projects; analysis of policy developments at the federal and state levels; analysis of actual and projected economic impact; and analysis of developments in relevant sectors of the economy.

Patrick Fullenkamp, Global Wind Network, discussed the U.S. Wind Energy Manufacturing and Supply Chain. This presentation summarized an effort to develop a greater understanding of the key factors determining wind energy component manufacturing costs and pricing on a global basis to enhance the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers and to reduce installed systems cost.

Suzanne Tegen from National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) held a presentation titled Offshore Wind Jobs and Economic Development Impact: Four Regional Scenarios. This covered analysis results of potential deployment in the Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Southeast regions of the United States based on NREL’s offshore wind Jobs and Economic Development Impacts (JEDI) model for monopile foundations.

Based on regional, project-specific data or default inputs, JEDI models estimate the number of jobs and other economic impacts to a local area (in this case, a region) that could be supported by a new power plant, like an offshore wind facility.

Press release; Image: Vattenfall (Illustration)