The Department of Energy and Department of Interior has published a plan for expanding offshore wind transmission infrastructure on the US east coast.
An Action Plan for Offshore Wind Transmission Development in the US Atlantic Region outlines the efforts needed to integrate Atlantic offshore wind projects into the electrical grid as well as long-term transmission needs.
The main recommendations include before 2025, establishing collaborative bodies that span the Atlantic Coast region; clarify some of the building blocks of transmission planning, including updating reliability standards and identifying where offshore transmission may interconnect with the onshore grid; and address costs through voluntary cost assignments and tax credits.
From 2025 to 2030, the plan recommends simultaneously convening and coordinating with states to plan for an offshore transmission network; with industry to standardise requirements for HVDC technology; and with federal agencies, tribal nations, state agencies, and stakeholders to identify and prioritise transmission paths on the outer continental shelf.
From 2030 onwards the plan envisages establishing a national HVDC testing and certification centre to ensure compatibility when interconnecting multiple HVDC substations to form an offshore grid network.
The Business Network for Offshore Wind has authored numerous policy papers on the need for coordinated and planned transmission development.
In 2020, the network laid out the benefits of offshore wind development in a transmission-focused policy paper and in 2021 argued that the federal government was uniquely suited to overcome regulatory and practical hurdles of transmission development.
A third paper, Coordinated Transmission Development for Offshore Wind in Multi-State RTOs, laid out how regions could chart a path forward on coordinated development.
Founder and chief executive of the Business Network for Offshore Wind Liz Burdock said: “Rebuilding America’s transmission system is critical to ensuring the full deployment of offshore wind on an accelerated timeline, and the Network has consistently called for upgrades to happen in a coordinated and planned manner to maximize benefits.
“Rebuilding our transmission system is extremely complex, and the federal government can play a unique role bringing major parties together to break through barriers.
“Along with ensuring that we can develop our industry, building out the grid in a coordinated fashion will yield enormous benefits for ratepayers and the environment, build confidence in the market’s trajectory, and accelerate development.
“We welcome the release of this action plan and encourage the federal government to begin working to bring states and stakeholders together.”