Thirteen clean energy and environmental organizations have jointly urged policymakers in coastal Atlantic states to accelerate planning and solicitation for offshore transmission systems to support the burgeoning offshore wind industry in the US.
Led by the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) and the American Clean Power Association, the letter highlights the need for adopting de facto global hardware standards established through collaboration between European utilities and the electric equipment supply chain. These standards focus on a standardized 525kV high voltage direct current system hardware design for converter platforms and transmission cables.
The groups emphasize that the US is well-placed to benefit from Europe's standardized approach, and adopting these standards could enable offshore wind energy to expand at the necessary scale and pace to meet state energy goals.
The adoption of these hardware standards is expected to offer several advantages, including cost-effective access to the global supply chain, expedited and scalable transmission solicitations, increased certainty for offshore developers and the global and US transmission supply chain, and the development of fewer offshore grid systems, thereby reducing environmental impacts.
In the letter, the groups stated, “Atlantic Coast states can and should move forward with planning and procurement of offshore transmission systems based on the work that has led to the developing supply chain and a significant order book.”
ACORE President and Chief Executive Ray Long emphasized the importance of timely transmission deployment, stating, “America cannot afford to drag its heels any longer in planning and deploying the transmission necessary to achieve the clean energy transition. Widespread growth in US electricity demand is going to require more energy than ever before, and offshore wind is a key component of meeting that demand.”
The letter concludes by urging Atlantic Coast states to begin transmission solicitations for offshore wind as soon as possible to ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place by the 2032-2033 timeframe.
