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California Energy Commission releases strategic plan for offshore wind
2022-12-31
The California Energy Commission's (CEC) strategic plan looks to provide guidance for grid regulators, policymakers, and developers on achieving development goals. This week's federal lease auctions from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) have brought 132,369 acres of ocean within the Humboldt WEA and 240,898 acres with the Morro Bay WEA with potential for up to 1.6 GW and 3 GW of energy respectively. Floating offshore wind technology is required due to the respective depths of 900-1,300m and 500-1,100m in these two areas.
However, there are several challenges that must be overcome in order to capitalize on this opportunity. Transmission constraints in the Humboldt Bay area limit the potential capacity to around 150 MW without substantial grid upgrades. Additionally, there are currently no ports along the West Coast that are capable of supporting floating offshore wind activities, according to a recent report by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
The CEC has worked proactively with CAISO and other agencies to begin addressing these issues. In February, CAISO released its first-ever 20-year transmission outlook that factored in transmission support for 10GW of offshore wind and more recently in March, the CEC approved a $10.5 million grant for renovations at the Port of Humboldt Bay to support floating offshore wind activities.
Principle Power, based in California had previously gone to Europe to demonstrate the viability and bankability of its floating offshore wind platform technology. The industry has some advantages over fixed-bottom offshore wind, though, since floating offshore wind turbines and platforms are largely completed at port. Developers and suppliers will also have to comply with the Jones Act for vessel deployment.
With these actions, California is well on its way to making substantial developments in offshore wind energy production along the West Coast. There appears to be a good roadmap going forward to ensure that transmission needs are met in order to bring this clean energy source online.
The California Energy Commission's (CEC) strategic plan looks to provide guidance for grid regulators, policymakers, and developers on achieving development goals. This week's federal lease auctions from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) have brought 132,369 acres of ocean within the Humboldt WEA and 240,898 acres with the Morro Bay WEA with potential for up to 1.6 GW and 3 GW of energy respectively. Floating offshore wind technology is required due to the respective depths of 900-1,300m and 500-1,100m in these two areas.
However, there are several challenges that must be overcome in order to capitalize on this opportunity. Transmission constraints in the Humboldt Bay area limit the potential capacity to around 150 MW without substantial grid upgrades. Additionally, there are currently no ports along the West Coast that are capable of supporting floating offshore wind activities, according to a recent report by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
The CEC has worked proactively with CAISO and other agencies to begin addressing these issues. In February, CAISO released its first-ever 20-year transmission outlook that factored in transmission support for 10GW of offshore wind and more recently in March, the CEC approved a $10.5 million grant for renovations at the Port of Humboldt Bay to support floating offshore wind activities.
Principle Power, based in California had previously gone to Europe to demonstrate the viability and bankability of its floating offshore wind platform technology. The industry has some advantages over fixed-bottom offshore wind, though, since floating offshore wind turbines and platforms are largely completed at port. Developers and suppliers will also have to comply with the Jones Act for vessel deployment.
With these actions, California is well on its way to making substantial developments in offshore wind energy production along the West Coast. There appears to be a good roadmap going forward to ensure that transmission needs are met in order to bring this clean energy source online.