North Carolina offshore wind holds significant energy potential ready to be explored in the coming years via offshore wind farms.
North Carolina governor Roy Cooper signed EO 218 in June 2021, establishing the directive to move North Carolina towards a green economy. The EO underscores offshore wind farms’ development in this renewable energy move.
The executive order targets 8 GW offshore wind development in 2040 and 2.8 GW in 2030. This is a massive step in renewables’ direction, as there are currently just two offshore wind farms in the US.
Can North Carolina be an offshore wind success story?
North Carolina has the largest GDP in the industrial sector on the East Coast and 5th overall in the USA. On the back of this industry is the ability to provide a supply chain for developers and a highly skilled workforce that can work in the development and operations of the farms.
The manufacturing industry of North Carolina employs a 470,000 person strong workforce among 10,250 manufacturing companies. These companies are primarily food, chemicals, fabricated metal products, transportation equipment, and machinery.
Offshore wind manufacturing can provide a considerable stimulus to the state’s economy. The investment in the sector can reach $100 billion for construction alone, according to a 2021 report by the North Carolina Department of Commerce.
Furthermore, US states’ offshore wind farm projects are projected at 41 GW by 2035. North Carolina government signed an MOU in 2020 with Maryland and Virginia to cooperate in offshore wind energy development.
Which state has the most offshore wind potential?
These are the top offshore wind farm development states in 2022.
- Delaware
- Massachusetts
- North Carolina
- New Jersey
- Virginia
- South Carolina
- Rhode Island
- Maryland
- Florida
- New York
Potential is not just based on wind speeds but also on interconnection to the grid, demand, and availability of other renewable sources. Ideally, the location should also have a solid manufacturing base and electrical transmission capabilities.
Where are the offshore wind farms in North Carolina?
Kitty Hawk Offshore wind farm is the only proposed offshore wind farm in North Carolina in 2022. The state has more development areas in the Wilmington Wind Energy Areas, but they have yet to be proposed or developed.
Where are the wind turbines in the USA?
Currently, wind turbines in the USA are concentrated in the Southwest and Midwest region, particularly in Iowa, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Illinois.
Regarding raw wind speeds, The national renewable energy laboratory map shows the intensity of wind energy across the United States. The adjacent waters surrounding the US are dark blue, indicating that offshore wind speeds are predominantly stronger and more consistent than onshore.
What is EO 218?
EO 218 establishes the NC TOWERS (North Carolina Taskforce for Offshore Wind Economic Resource Strategies). This multi-agency team advises the Governor and the state decision-makers on relevant offshore wind policy. NC TOWERS is a group of experts from North Carolina university, wildlife, community, and military who submit an annual report to the Governor’s office and policymakers.
It also directs the North Carolina coast to be utilized. It sets the goal of 2.8 GW offshore capacity by 2030 and 8 GW by 2040.
How much can NC offshore wind industry contribute to the NC economy?
According to a 2022 study by the southeastern wind coalition, the net profit of the wind industry to NC is up to $4.6 billion by 2030 if a 2.8 GW offshore wind farm is built off the NC coast.
Which part of North Carolina has a lease to develop offshore wind energy?
110,000 hectares or 445 square kilometers of offshore area in Wilmington were leased to winning bidders in May 2022, just before the moratorium for offshore energy leasing takes effect on July 1, 2022.
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management awarded the lease to Duke Energy and TotalEnergies. They submitted winning bids worth $155 million and $160 million, respectively.
The two areas will develop wind farms with the potential to deliver renewable electricity to 675,000 homes and 2.6 GW of installed capacity.
Which area of NC is the best for harnessing wind power?
Based on the NREL map, the bluer areas near the Atlantic coastline have stronger winds, from Kitty Hawk down to Jacksonville and Wilmington. On the farther end to the west bordering Tennessee is Asheville, a mountainous area. Mountain areas have stronger winds due to higher altitudes and less ground friction.
How many wind farms are in NC?
The one operating commercial onshore wind farm is Desert Wind Farm at Perquimans and Pasquotank County. Installed at 208 MW capacity, the wind farm started running in 2015 with 104 Siemens Gamesa turbines.
Three offshore wind projects are still in the permitting or planning stages. One wind farm in development is Kitty Hawk, a 69 turbine, 2.5 GW wind farm off the Outer Banks. However, Kitty Hawk will make landfall at Virginia Beach instead.
Meanwhile, the Carolina Long Bay area leases awarded in May 2022 will go online between 2030 to 2032.
How much wind energy is used in North Carolina?
With only 208 MW installed capacity, North Carolina generated 0.4% of its electricity from wind energy in 2021.
| Electrical Grid Power Type | Electricity Generated |
|---|---|
| Natural Gas | 35.9% |
| Nuclear | 32.9% |
| Coal | 15.5% |
| Solar | 7.6% |
| Hydro | 5.8% |
| Biomass | 1.6% |
| Wind | 0.4% |
| Other Nonrenewable | 0.3% |