This article was updated in January 2021 to reflect the most recent industry updates.
A lot is going on in the booming wind power industry these days. Greentech Media reported on April 9 that “Global wind capacity is set to double by 2027, driven by a rush to capture tax subsidies in the U.S., the rise of emerging markets, and a coming surge for offshore wind.” In short, it’s an exciting time to be involved in the wind power industry, with positive news almost everywhere you look.
The Offshore Wind Power Farm Market Looks Promising
- New Jersey officials “doubled down on Governor Murphy’s ambitious goal of securing 3,500 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind energy generation by 2030.” – Announced at the International Offshore Wind Partnering Forum, according to CleanTechnica.
- The Trump administration appears to be lending “wholehearted support to the development of offshore projects,” with American Wind Energy Association CEO Tom Kiernan stating that “[Interior] Secretary Zinke’s leadership is transforming the enormous potential for offshore wind into a concrete pillar of American energy dominance.” - Greentech Media
- Wind power is booming in Scotland, which is “fast on track to get 100 percent of its electricity via renewable energy by 2020.” During the first quarter of 2018, wind power supplies to Scotland’s National Grid grew “an impressive 44 percent increase compared to the same period last year.” - EcoWatch
- Also in Scotland, “[t]he world's most powerful wind turbine has been successfully installed off the coast of Aberdeen.” This turbine is “so powerful that developers say a single rotation of its blades could power an average UK home for a day.” - The Independent
Green Energy Development is Growing in Emerging Economies
- India is moving towards setting up offshore wind power farms, with the first one “around 1,000 megawatts (MW) in the Gulf of Khambhat, off the coast of Gujarat.” - Quartz
- Gigantic offshore wind turbines in Europe are attracting a great deal of interest from investors, with over $9 billion of offshore wind farm stakes sold in 2017, “up 77 percent from 2016.” - Bloomberg
- One of the best things about the burgeoning wind power industry is that it creates good jobs that enable workers to “[climb] wind turbines to the middle class,” including in rural areas and low-income areas which badly need those jobs. A wind service technician position one of the fastest growing jobs in the US. - NBC News
Given the news items listed above, from just the past few weeks, you probably won’t be surprised by the prediction that wind power is set to double by 2027 or that, “wind power additions averaging 65 gigawatts a year from 2018 to 2027.”
Opportunities for Cleantech Companies
This presents a wealth of PR opportunities for renewable energy — but it also requires a shift of strategy. Renewable energy development agencies can’t rely on legacy media and traditional marketing to gain new leads. Fossil fuel companies have been so successful because they understand the power of cultural acceptance. Green energy development needs to build up its community acceptance game plan in order to compete with incumbent energy industries like oil and gas.
Stay tuned to ScalingClean for more advice on offshore renewable energy development plans in coming months.