Catch the Wind: October 2020
In This Issue
Continue to follow the Wind Energy Technologies Office for the latest news, events, and updates.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) National Laboratories collect, track, and publish a variety of data on U.S. wind installations, technology trends, costs, prices, performance, and more for the offshore, land-based, and distributed wind sectors. Here’s a roundup of the latest:
The U.S. offshore wind industry had a pipeline of 28,521 megawatts (MW) in various stages of development at the end of 2019. The amount of U.S. offshore wind capacity under federal and state permitting with a signed offtake agreement was 6,439 MW, a threefold increase from the previous year. State-level offshore wind commitments increased from about 19,000 MW in 2018 to 29,000 MW in early 2020. Offshore wind turbines installed globally in 2019 average 6 MW in capacity, with rotor diameters of 150 meters. Other global trends include projects being installed in deeper waters further from shore. View a PowerPoint summary or download the 2019 Offshore Wind Technology Data.
The United States added 9,000 MW of new land-based, utility-scale wind power capacity in 2019, bringing the national total to 105.6 gigawatts. Wind power represented the second-largest source of U.S. electric-generating capacity additions in 2019 and provides more than 10% of electricity in 14 states. Continuing the long-term trend, average turbine capacity, rotor diameter, and hub height increased in 2019, significantly boosting wind project performance to a capacity factor of 41%. The national average price of wind power purchase agreements has dropped to less than 2 cents per kilowatt-hour, and the levelized cost of energy has dropped 60% in the past 10 years to $36 per megawatt-hour. View a PowerPoint summary or download the 2019 Wind Technology Data.
The U.S. distributed wind sector—which includes power from wind turbines installed near where the power will be used—added 18 MW of new distributed wind capacity in 17 states in 2019, bringing the national total to 1,145 MW from more than 85,000 turbines. Industrial and utility customers accounted for the majority of distributed wind capacity installed in 2019. View a PowerPoint summary or download the 2019 Distributed Wind Data.
For more information, see energy.gov/windreport.
News and Events
Are you an engineer or scientist interested in working for DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)? EERE is searching for enthusiastic, driven and committed professionals to fill our vacant positions.
DOE has Direct Hire Authority for General Engineers that allows EERE to hire more quickly than through the traditional government hiring process. EERE’s Wind Energy Technologies Office is seeking a General Engineer with experience in power electronics/power systems engineering. If you’re interested in one of these positions, please email EEREhiring@ee.doe.gov and include your name, the best way you can be reached, and the position and EERE office that interests you. Then attach your resume.
PLEASE NOTE: Do not include personal information in your resume. We do NOT want you to include your social security number, photos of you, information about your age or gender, or any government-sensitive information. If EERE is interested after reviewing your resume, the DOE Human Capital office will contact you to request a transcript demonstrating that your educational background meets the basic eligibility requirements of the position in question.
Online: October 13–14, 2020
Join DOE’s National Laboratories at the AWEA Offshore WINDPOWER 2020 Virtual Summit. This annual conference brings together leaders from the offshore wind industry, developers, academia, government, and the public sector to educate and discuss successes, challenges, employment, and economics related to deploying more offshore wind in the United States. Presentations will include WETO-funded projects focused on reducing costs and improving the economic feasibility of floating offshore wind technology and commercializing new floating technologies. Daniel R Simmons, DOE’s Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, will participate in a panel on October 13 entitled “Powering the Renewable Blue Economy.”
Register for the event on AWEA’s website.
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