NREL Publishes Study on Gulf of Mexico Offshore Wind Transmission

The Report Examines Opportunities and Challenges for Transmitting Offshore Wind Energy in the Gulf of Mexico to Customers on Land

Researchers from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) published a report, Gulf of Mexico Offshore Wind Transmission Literature Review and Gaps Analysis: Environmental Considerations, Community Readiness, and Infrastructure. Funded by DOE’s GDO and the Wind Energy Technologies Office, the report examines current literature to gather information and identify gaps that need to be filled to advance regional transmission planning work in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Gulf of Mexico represents 37% of the country’s total offshore wind energy potential and could provide a reliable, clean source of energy to customers in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. Effectively and efficiently connecting offshore wind energy resources to end users in the Gulf of Mexico requires coordinated transmission planning to ensure that electric transmission facilities can adequately support future offshore development.