Ranking of the Largest US-Based Offshore Wind Farms
The United States is on a journey towards a more sustainable energy future, with the list of the 10 largest wind farms in the country rapidly evolving. One of the key players in this transformation is Avangrid Renewables, the orchestrator of the Kitty Hawk Wind project, positioned off North Carolina's coast with a potential capacity of 2,500 MW.
Another significant player in the U.S. offshore wind sector is Dominion Energy, which is leading the charge with the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project. Currently the largest offshore wind project in the country, it has installed 134 out of 176 foundations and is expected to start delivering electricity early in 2026.
Orsted, a global leader in offshore wind, is also making its mark in the U.S., ranked 6th among U.S. wind developers by total wind capacity. The company is the pioneer for both Ocean Wind 1 and Ocean Wind 2, anchored off New Jersey's shores. Ocean Wind 2, with a capacity of 1,148 MW, is anticipated to be completed by 2027, while Ocean Wind 1, with a capacity of 1,100 MW, is planned to be completed by 2024.
Avangrid Renewables, also in the top 10 U.S. wind developers, is involved in both offshore and onshore wind projects, providing substantial capacity and pipeline. Companies like Ørsted, Dominion Energy, and Equinor are leading the US offshore wind sector, with Equinor aiming to contribute 816 MW by 2026 with the Empire Wind project, located south of Jones Beach Island, New York.
The U.S. offshore wind capacity is on a steady rise, aiming to match or even surpass international counterparts. Sunrise Wind, a collaboration between Ørsted, Eversource, and others, has a capacity of 880 MW and is located between Massachusetts and Rhode Island. TotalEnergy Renewables USA is spearheading the Wilmington East & Wilmington West Wind Farm initiative, located off North Carolina's coast and boasting a combined capacity of 2,250 MW.
The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project and the Wilmington East & Wilmington West Wind Farm are expected to become operational by 2026 and 2025 respectively. The Atlantic Shores project, a joint venture between Shell New Energies and EDF Renewables, is located 13-15 miles east of Atlantic City, New Jersey, and has a capacity of 1,510 MW.
While these projects hold promise for a more sustainable energy future, there are concerns about the negative effects of offshore wind farms on marine ecosystems. The importance of sustainable development that benefits communities and minimises environmental impact cannot be overstated.
As the U.S. offshore wind industry rapidly grows, it is expected to reach the Department of Energy’s 30-gigawatt target by 2030, with companies like Dominion Energy, Orsted, and Avangrid Renewables leading the way.
- The United States is utilizing environmental-science to move towards a more sustainable energy future, focusing on the construction of renewable-energy sources such as wind farms.
- Companies like Avangrid Renewables, Dominion Energy, and Orsted are investing heavily in infrastructure, playing key roles in the country's transformation to renewable energy.
- Technology, particularly data-and-cloud-computing, is integral to the planning and execution of these large-scale wind projects, helping to optimize energy production.
- Climate-change concerns are driving this shift towards renewable energy, with the U.S. offshore wind sector aiming to match and even surpass international counterparts in capacity.
- Finance is a crucial factor, as the industry gears up to reach the Department of Energy’s 30-gigawatt target by 2030, with companies like Dominion Energy, Orsted, and Avangrid Renewables leading the way.
- However, it's essential to ensure that this infrastructure development doesn't harm the environment, with the importance of sustainable development that benefits communities and minimises environmental impact being of utmost importance.
