Nova Scotia is taking its biggest step yet toward Canada offshore wind—and the results could be transformative for Atlantic Canada clean energy and beyond.
A New Era for Clean Energy
The Government of Canada and Nova Scotia have unveiled a strategic plan that clears the way for the country’s first-ever offshore wind projects. The move gives the Canada–Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator new direction to launch a prequalification process and call for information, drawing in global investors while opening the door for public and Indigenous input.
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This process will set the stage for acall for bids on offshore wind areas, ensuring projects are both environmentally responsible and economically viable.
Major Projects Office Steps In
The announcement builds on last week’s creation of the federal Major Projects Office (MPO), which will focus on advancing transformative energy infrastructure—including the proposed Wind West Atlantic Energy project.
If developed, Wind West could tap into some of the world’s strongest offshore winds, delivering clean power across Atlantic Canada while strengthening energy security and creating new economic opportunities. Plans also include interprovincial connections through transmission lines between Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Leaders Call Canada Offshore Wind a “Game Changer”
Government officials are framing this as a turning point for Canada’s energy future:
“Now is the time to harness our powerful wind potential, turning it into prosperity and new opportunities,” said Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.
“We have the wind, the people, and the ambition to lead the clean energy future,” added Sean Fraser, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.
Nova Scotia’s Energy Minister Trevor Boudreau called offshore wind a “game changer” that will deliver clean energy to markets while creating good jobs for Nova Scotians.
Industry Momentum Building
The Canada–Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator is finalizing details of the process, which will guide the first Call for Bids. Industry voices say maintaining momentum is crucial to attracting world-class investment and ensuring benefits flow to communities across Atlantic Canada.
Why It Matters
With global demand for offshore wind accelerating, Canada is finally staking its claim in a sector projected to deliver billions in investment and thousands of jobs worldwide.
This fall could prove pivotal: Nova Scotia’s offshore winds are poised to power homes, strengthen energy security, and position Canada as a serious contender in the global clean energy race.
Why Offshore Wind Matters for Nova Scotia’s Future
Nova Scotia is emerging as one of the most promising places in the world to build offshore wind farms—and the benefits could be enormous.
Clean Energy, Zero Emissions
Offshore wind offers a powerful alternative to fossil fuels. By generating electricity without greenhouse gas emissions, Nova Scotia can cut pollution, meet its climate change goals, and become a leader in the global clean energy transition.
Supporting Other Clean Industries
The impact goes beyond power generation. Offshore wind can also fuel other clean energy industries, like green hydrogen, creating new opportunities for innovation, investment, and exports.
Driving Economic Growth
Developing offshore wind could strengthen Nova Scotia’s economy. It would boost the local supply chain, create high-quality jobs, and support port services, construction, and advanced research. With its skilled workforce and strong academic institutions, the province is well-positioned to build an entirely new energy industry.
Ideal Conditions for Wind Farms
Nova Scotia has natural advantages that make it uniquely suited for offshore wind:
A wide continental shelf with relatively shallow waters, perfect for floating or fixed platforms.
Some of the fastest and most consistent winds in the world.
Deep, ice-free harbors ready to support offshore construction and shipping.
These features make it possible to build large-scale wind farms that deliver clean, reliable energy.
Balancing Development and Responsibility
Building wind farms at sea requires careful planning. Factors such as distance to shore, seabed conditions, turbine design, weather patterns, and environmental impacts must all be considered. That’s why both the federal and provincial governments are jointly regulating projects through the Canada–Nova Scotia Offshore Wind Energy Regulator, ensuring development is sustainable and balanced with other ocean industries.
Nova Scotia Offshore Wind Advantage
What makes Nova Scotia stand out globally?
Abundant wind resources matched with proximity to growing European clean fuel markets.
Available land and ports for facilities, manufacturing, and servicing turbines.
A competitive, experienced workforce with knowledge in ocean industries and energy.
A reputation as a leader in emerging technologies.
The Big Picture
Nova Scotia offshore wind represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Canada renewable energy projects. It can power homes, support new industries, create thousands of jobs, and position the province as a clean energy hub—not just for Canada, but for the world.
Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus, is taking decisive steps to address the country’s fossil fuel dependence and transition toward renewable energy. With rising energy costs, power shortages, and climate risks, officials say the time for a Bangladesh clean energy transition is now.
“Bangladesh cannot afford prolonged reliance on fossil fuels. It is time to seriously consider clean energy alternatives, including large-scale solar deployment,” Yunus said during a virtual conference with Carl Page, chairman of the Anthropocene Institute.
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Bangladesh Renewable Energy Future: Solar Power on the Rise
Bangladesh has gained global recognition for its solar home system (SHS) program, providing electricity to over six million rural homes. Now, the Yunus government is pushing for a Bangladesh renewable energy future that includes industrial-scale solar farms.
“With strong investment and policy support, Bangladesh can become a hub for solar innovation in South Asia.”
Key Drivers of Bangladesh’s Renewable Energy Future
Government target: 40% electricity from renewable sources by 2041
Utility-scale solar projects underway in Feni, Gaibandha, and Teknaf
Rooftop solar solutions growing in industrial zones
Challenges such as land scarcity, grid capacity, and financing gaps remain. Strong policy incentives and foreign partnerships will be crucial to realize the Bangladesh renewable energy future.
Bangladesh Clean Energy Transition
Alongside solar, the government is exploring nuclear power for large-scale, stable electricity supply. The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, built with Russian collaboration, is expected to generate 2,400 MW.
“Next-generation nuclear technologies, including barge-mounted reactors, offer reliable, zero-carbon power at lower costs,” said Page.
Prof. Yunus emphasized that nuclear expansion requires rigorous research, safety assessments, and feasibility studies.
“We will explore these opportunities carefully, but there is no question—Bangladesh must drastically reduce its dependence on fossil fuels,” Yunus added.
Economic Implications of the Clean Energy Push
Bangladesh spends billions annually on fossil fuel imports, straining its foreign reserves. Analysts say a strategic pivot toward Bangladesh clean energy could:
Reduce energy import bills significantly.
Create jobs in solar installation, nuclear operations, and renewable technology sectors.
Attract climate financing from the World Bank, ADB, and private investors.
Ensure industrial competitiveness through a reliable and affordable power supply.
Industry observers believe that integrating solar and nuclear power into the energy mix could also stabilize electricity prices and enhance economic resilience.
Regional and Global Context
Bangladesh is among the most climate-vulnerable nations globally. Rising sea levels, cyclones, and floods make dependence on fossil fuels increasingly unsustainable.
Experts say a successful clean energy transition would position Bangladesh as a regional model in renewable energy, demonstrating how a developing nation can balance economic growth with environmental responsibility.
Economic Impacts: Green Jobs and Industrial Growth
Bangladesh spends billions on fossil fuel imports, straining the economy. A strategic shift to Bangladesh clean energy could:
Reduce import bills and strengthen reserves
Create thousands of jobs in solar, nuclear, and renewable sectors
Attract international climate financing from the World Bank, ADB, and private investors
Stabilize electricity prices and boost industrial competitiveness
“Clean energy is not just an environmental imperative—it’s an economic opportunity for Bangladesh.”
Policy Outlook: Next Steps for the Yunus Government Energy Policy
The interim government plans to:
Accelerate solar power projects through public-private partnerships
Conduct feasibility studies for nuclear power expansion
Encourage private sector investment in renewable energy
Expand regional energy trade with India, Nepal, and Bhutan
“We need in-depth studies on promising technologies. But with strong policies, Bangladesh can achieve its renewable energy goals,” Yunus said.
Conclusion
Bangladesh’s energy landscape is at a pivotal juncture. With a clear focus on solar and nuclear power, the Yunus government’s energy policy could drive a historic Bangladesh clean energy transition.
The ultimate question remains: Will Bangladesh seize this opportunity to become a regional clean energy superpower, or will challenges slow its progress?
Why is Trump shutting down Biden-approved offshore wind projects—and what does it mean for US clean energy goals?
After shutting down two other large offshore wind projects, New York’s Empire 1Wind Project and Lava Ridge, it is moving to shut down Rhode Island’s Revolution Wind. Trump’s offshore wind ban policy will destroy Ørsted’s multi-billion dollar offshore project. Approved during the Biden administration, the projects were celebrated as the backbone of America’s clean energy transition. Now, with Trump’s shutdown looming, critics are warning that the United States is backing away from its climate commitments at the very moment the world is moving toward a low-carbon future.
The Trump administration argues the opposite: these projects represent expensive, unreliable, and risky ventures that harm national security and American taxpayers. But we all know that renewable energy comes entirely from nature. All of Trump’s decisions are raising one of the most divisive energy debates in modern American history.
Ørsted’s $1.5 billion project: 80% Complete, Now in Limbo
On Friday, August 22, 2025, the Trump administration issued a surprise order: all work on Orsted’s $1.5 billion Revolution Wind project must cease.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) wrote to Orsted that the moratorium was necessary to protect “the national security interests of the United States” and “prevent interference with the reasonable use of the exclusive economic zone, high seas, and territorial waters.”
“You may not resume operations until BOEM notifies you that BOEM has completed its required review,” the agency clearly told Orsted.
The order halted a project that was 80% complete, already employs hundreds of union workers, and was scheduled to be completed by 2026. If it works, Revolution Wind will provide 704 megawatts of clean electricity—enough to power more than 350,000 USA homes across Rhode Island and Connecticut.
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A Decade of Progress
Ørsted has been operating in the US for a long time and is considered a leader in offshore wind. It has completed and is operating each project with great efficiency and success.
Revolution Wind is no speculative venture. It has spent nearly a decade undergoing environmental, technical, and regulatory reviews and then received every federal and state permit, including approval of the construction and operating plan in November 2023.
In essence, it has signed 20-year power purchase agreements (PPAs) to deliver 400 megawatts of electricity to Rhode Island and 304 megawatts to Connecticut, which the states plan to rely on as part of a strategy to reduce emissions and stabilize electricity prices.
Ørsted stressed that the project is fully permitted and contractually binding—an issue that could become the focus of an upcoming legal battle.
Ørsted’s investment in the US
Since the suspension, Oersted’s statements have been both defiant and defensive. The company has emphasized its role in building US energy infrastructure:
Investing billions in offshore wind, ports and grid upgrades
Building shipbuilding and manufacturing supply chains in more than 40 states
More than 4 million union workers are working hours on US offshore wind projects.
2 million hours at Revolution Wind alone.
After Trump’s ban, it said, “Revolution Wind is employing local union workers who support both onshore and offshore construction operations.”
The company is also assessing its financial situation, including legal action. Investors were warned that the suspension could affect its rights issue, due in August 2025, which could potentially put further financial pressure on Ørsted’s US operations.
Empire 1 wind project and Lava Ridge: Casualties
Revolution Wind is not one. The Rhode Island project is the third major renewable project to be shut down by the Trump administration this year:
Empire 1 Wind Project (New York): First, in April, Interior officials revoked approval for the offshore project off Long Island, which was scheduled to power millions of New York homes.
Lava Ridge Wind Project (Idaho): Second, in August, the administration revoked Biden’s approval for this land-based wind farm that would have powered 500,000 homes.
Revolution Wind (Rhode Island): Third, now on hold despite being near completion.
These projects, together representing more than 1.5 gigawatts of renewable capacity, represent significant progress toward Biden’s clean energy goals—progress that is now almost certain.
Empire 1 Wind Project:
The Empire 1 Wind Project, an offshore anchor in New York off the coast of Long Island, was designed to be one of the largest offshore wind farms in New York. With the potential to generate more than 816 megawatts of clean electricity, it is said to be capable of providing clean power to millions of homes, and the project has been a major contributor to America’s ambitious climate goals.
In terms of economic opportunity, various industry reports say that Empire 1 wind project, if fully operational, would create thousands of construction jobs, long-term maintenance positions, and billions in local investment. In many ways, it is the cornerstone of New York’s renewables strategy, and its success or failure could build investor confidence in the entire US offshore sector.
Empire 1, in essence, could make New York the epicenter of renewable energy in America. But with other mega-projects like Revolution Wind under Trump’s leadership, the administration has expressed doubts that Empire 1 will survive political interference.
For clean energy advocates, this makes Empire 1 a test case: The question is can state-level ambitions outpace federal rollbacks?
Lava Ridge Wind Project
Trump’s executive order initially halted Lava Ridge Wind Project. The Lava Ridge Wind Project, a proposed 1,000 megawatt (MW) wind farm in Magic Valley, Idaho, was designed to provide clean electricity to California. Initially approved by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in 2024, the project was abruptly halted in January 2025 by an executive order from former President Donald Trump.
Trump’s executive order halted Lava Ridge Wind Project Image: US Department of Energy
The project was located on 104,000 acres northeast of Twin Falls and planned for more than 200 turbines, each up to 660 feet tall.
Trump declared the project “unconscionable to the public interest and subject to legal error” in his order, which effectively terminated Magic Valley Energy’s right to proceed. And on his first day in office, Trump fulfilled a campaign promise by halting the project. In a press release, he citied:
“I promised the people of Idaho that I would not rest until the Lava Ridge Wind Project was shut down. On the first day, I kept that promise.”
South Fork Wind
South Fork Wind: A small project with a large symbol Compared to Empire 1—about 132 megawatts—Orsted project — its significance is enormous. As one of the first offshore wind projects approved in U.S. federal waters, South Fork was built to prove that offshore turbines are technically feasible and can be accepted by the public. Located near the South Fork of Long Island, the project is already generating enough electricity to power 70,000 homes.
Image: South Fork Wind website
It also suggests that offshore wind is not just about large industrial projects; smaller, regionally concentrated wind farms can play an important role in diversifying America’s energy mix. South Fork also has symbolic significance: If the Trump administration continues to target larger projects for cancellation, small but viable farms like South Fork could become the backbone of early offshore deployment in the United States.
Opportunity amidst controversy Despite the political turmoil, both Empire 1 and South Fork demonstrate that offshore wind is one of the biggest opportunities for US clean energy goals.
Together, they represent: Job creation: Thousands of direct and indirect jobs in construction, manufacturing, shipping, and long-term operations. Energy security: Reducing reliance on fossil fuel imports through reliable, domestic power generation.
Climate progress: A solid step toward New York’s mandate to generate 70% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Global investment appeal: An opportunity to keep the United States competitive with Europe and Asia, where offshore wind is already growing rapidly. Still, the controversy is hard to ignore. Biden approved several projects early in his term, but Trump’s recent shutdowns have eroded investor confidence and shaken local economies.
Image; South Fork Wind website
New York officials argue that canceling or delaying projects like Empire 1 could jeopardize billions of dollars in clean energy promises, while fossil fuel allies argue that offshore wind is still too expensive and disruptive. The big question is, ultimately, that Empire 1 and the South Fork are the realization of the crossroads that America now faces.
Will political agendas derail projects that promise jobs, clean air, and long-term savings—or will these wind farms stand as proof that the United States is serious about leading the renewable energy revolution?
For now, both projects are alive and well, but the future of America’s offshore wind sector could depend on whether Empire 1 and the South Fork can weather the political turmoil and deliver on their clean energy promises.
Trump’s offshore wind ban: Energy dominance
The US has taken a stand against the shutdown as part of a broader strategy to protect energy interests.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has dismissed large offshore wind farms as “massive, unreliable, non-stop energy projects” that are holding America back. He argues that they put a heavy burden on taxpayers and threaten the US “energy dominance” that Trump has been borrowing from his first term.
Beyond the rhetoric, the Trump administration launched a national security investigation into wind turbine imports, focusing on potential foreign subsidies and supply chain vulnerabilities. It has invited public comment, but unfortunately, critics say the process is opaque and politically motivated.
Then, in the next blow, Congress recently passed theOne Big Beautiful Bill, which further strengthens the strict regime by removing clean energy incentives from Biden’s inflation reduction law. For renewable developers, this is a sign of an increasingly hostile investment environment.
The government has repeatedly implemented various laws and policies that have cornered wind energy, especially offshore wind projects, causing companies to suffer huge losses and forcing them to shut down projects.
Biden’s view versus Trump’s opposite
The stark divide between the two administrations is clear:
Biden’s plan: to approve projects like Empire 1, Revolution Wind, and South Fork to deliver 30 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030, bringing clean electricity to more than half of homes. These projects were designed not only to provide clean electricity but also to help the United States reduce emissions, compete with countries such as China and Europe, and create massive jobs in clean energy.
Trump’s opposite: Trump has repeatedly called for canceling, delaying, or severely reviewing these projects, citing national security risks, cost burdens, and energy insecurity. All of the arguments Trump made have since been proven wrong.
Biden saw offshore wind as a path to climate leadership; Trump sees it as a liability.
AI generated
State pushback and legal action
The response from states has been swift. In May, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong joined 17 other AGs in suing the Trump administration over its offshore wind regulation efforts.
With Rhode Island and Connecticut directly affected by Revolution Wind, further legal challenges are likely. Given its contractual obligations under the PPA and the billions of dollars already spent, Ørsted could end up in court, as could others.
The court could now decide whether the federal government can unilaterally halt projects that have been fully approved and are already under construction.
US Clean Energy Goals at Risk
If these project closures become permanent, the impact would be huge:
First, 1.5 GW+ of offshore wind capacity would be completely lost
Nearly a million homes would be without clean power
Billions in investments by developers like Oersted would be frozen
Thousands of union jobs would be lost
State climate goals in New York, Rhode Island, and Connecticut would be thwarted
Finally, Biden’s 30 GW by 2030 goal would be weakened
image: AI genertaed
The U.S. would lose credibility in the global race for renewable energy leadership, not just in terms of targets. While Europe and China are aggressively expanding offshore wind; the U.S. would lag behind.
Orsted’s future in the US
The crisis raises questions about whether Oersted and other developers will continue to invest in the US market. Ørsted has already built the South Fork Wind project, which is supplying power to New York at a 53% power factor—compared to baseload sources.
For the company, South Fork proves that offshore wind can be both reliable and efficient. But with Revolution Wind stalled and Empire 1 canceled, Ørsted faces increasing uncertainty. If political risks become too high, developers could redirect capital to friendlier markets in Europe or Asia.
A Nation at a Crossroads
The changing political landscape has brought about a major shift in US energy policy. The United States is currently at a crossroads. On the one hand, the country could accelerate its deployment of renewable energy, reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, and secure a place as a global leader in clean energy.
On the other hand, it could expand its fossil fuel dominance, questioning its leadership position with foreign competitors. The fight against Oersted’s Revolution Wind will be emblematic of this struggle. Will America commit to a clean energy future, or will politics derail decades of progress?
In the Bottom
In the last words, the Trump administration’s shutdown of Ørsted’s Revolution Wind would be more than a bureaucratic delay—it would be a symbolic and practical blow to US clean energy goals. Biden’s approval of projects like Empire 1 and Revolution Wind promised to transform the U.S. energy landscape, but Trump’s shutdown is shattering that vision, throwing states, companies, and workers into turmoil.
As the lawsuits pile up and political divisions deepen, the future of U.S. offshore wind—and with it, America’s clean energy goals—hangs in the balance. For Ørsted, the fight is about rescuing a $1.5 billion investment. For America, it’s about deciding whether to lead the global race to renewable energy or fall behind. The question is which way America will go!
With US clean energy goals under threat! it remains to be seen whether the U.S. will lead the global renewable energy race—or fall behind? Stay tuned to https://windnewstoday.com/ for the latest on offshore wind, clean energy policy.
Europe aims to increase its offshore wind capacity to 84 GW by 2030, but one of the most important challenges is the lack of investment in shipbuilding and port infrastructure
Brussels, August 2025— Europe is facing a shortfall in offshore wind investment, according to a new report by IndEurope News. With just five years to go to meet its 2030 energy targets, Europe offshore wind investment needs an additional €2.4 billion in funding to ensure its offshore wind infrastructure can grow in time. Without this investment, Europe will fall behind in its clean energy transition.
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Europe needs urgent action to meet offshore wind targets
Europe currently has 36.6 gigawatts (GW) of installed offshore wind capacity. To meet climate targets and energy security commitments, this figure needs to rise to 84 GW by 2030. Achieving this target depends on the continent installing at least 10 GW of offshore wind capacity annually, which is expected to increase to 15 GW per year after 2030.
While the installation rate is currently on track, supporting infrastructure, including ports and ships, is not developing fast enough. It is understood that significant capacity shortfalls could hinder the deployment of offshore wind projects in the future.
Marine infrastructure plays a central role
The offshore wind supply chain is heavily dependent on Europe’s maritime infrastructure. In the last three years, €6.7 billion has been invested in port upgrades and ship procurement. Analysts warn an additional €6.4 billion is needed, and €2.4 billion in the short term to meet the 2030 target.
This infrastructure is needed for building, installing, and maintaining wind turbines, so without immediate investment in this area, the supply chain may not be able to handle the volume of installations needed to stay on track.
EU ports strategy aims to fill infrastructure gaps
The European Commission is developing a new EU-wide ports strategy aimed at supporting the offshore wind sector. Ports are crucial for the industry. They act as logistical hubs for transporting turbines and components, act as maintenance bases and provide the space needed to assemble large structures—especially for floating offshore wind.
Strategic importance of ports for offshore wind
Over the past three years, €4.4 billion has been invested in port infrastructure across Europe, yet the report finds that an additional €2.4 billion is urgently needed to upgrade facilities and expand port capacity, as ports play a key role in supporting local wind energy supply chains and delivering efficient projects across the continent.
Policy measures proposed in the EU Ports Strategy
The Ports Strategy is expected to recommend three key actions. Firstly, the European Investment Bank could be involved in increasing funding allocations through programs such as the EU Connecting Europe Facility and supporting strategic projects. Secondly, the Commission is likely to simplify permitting procedures, as it can currently take up to 10 years to approve port expansions. Finally, the strategy could include an EU-wide map of port capacity and plans to match them with the demand for offshore wind deployment in member states.
Shipbuilding and ship investment are barriers.
In the case of offshore wind, there was talk of ports but in addition to ports, Europe needs to make significant investments in its offshore wind fleet. Why ports? Because currently, around 80 ships are used across Europe to install turbines and transport workers. The emergence of larger turbines over 15 MW requires a new generation of ships with more advanced capabilities.
Technological innovation of ships is needed
In the last three years, Europe has already invested around €2.3 billion in offshore wind ships. Despite this progress, an additional €4 billion is needed to install larger and more technologically advanced turbines, many of which are not capable of handling the weight and complexity of the new models.
Reducing emissions from marine activities
Marine activities currently contribute up to 20% of the total life cycle emissions of an offshore wind project. Decarbonizing this sector is crucial. The EU Maritime Industrial Strategy is expected to promote clean fuels such as hydrogen, ammonia, and electricity while supporting the refitting of older ships or the construction of new zero-emission ships.
How Europe’s Offshore Wind Future Hinges on Strategic Europe Offshore Wind Investment
Europe’s offshore wind future largely depends on timely investment. Its ability to meet its offshore wind targets depends on swift and coordinated action. A well-funded port strategy and a forward-looking maritime industry strategy can ensure that infrastructure, permitting, and innovation are developed in line with demand.
Without investment, the European Union could fail to achieve its 2030 offshore wind goals. It clearly said that it risks losing its global leadership in renewable energy. Though the window for action narrows, decisions taken in the coming months will fix the future of Europe’s clean energy landscape.
Key points:
More than €4.4 billion has been invested in ports.
Ports supply, store, assemble, and maintain wind equipment.
Floating offshore wind infrastructure to be integrated into port areas
Europe to generate 10 GW of electricity per year by 2030 and 15 GW later
A €2.4 billion shortfall needs to be urgently filled.
Ports and ships are out of the question for offshore wind to succeed.
The strategic move will determine Europe’s energy security and competitiveness for decades to come.
In the Bottom
If the EU is serious about leading the way in offshore wind, it needs to match ambition with investment. The proposed EU Port Strategy and Maritime Industry Strategy offer a golden opportunity to close the Europe offshore wind investment of €2.4 billion and strengthen Europe’s journey towards a cleaner, more resilient energy system.
From WindNewsToday Staff | Source: Public Statements, New York post
Offshore wind transmission New York City halted amid Trump legacy — while nation’s largest offshore wind Farm is gaining momentum!
A tipping Point In The Wind
offshore wind is a stunning blow to the clean energy economy, the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) is stopping the process for approving vital offshore wind transmission New York lines that is intended to deliver renewable electricity to the downstate region of New York City. The commission’s action, industry advocates say, is the single most severe blow so far to New York clean energy policy and climate goals — and they are placing the blame squarely on former President Donald Trump offshore wind opposition.
The PSC attributed the decision to federal uncertainty and Trump administration hostility toward offshore wind as the reasons for putting construction approvals on ice. The ruling, delivered with little fanfare but resonating mightily throughout the state’s energy sector, punctures New York’s signature climate law — the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act — which requires a power sector free of carbon by 2040 and a mix that includes 70 percent renewable energy by 2030.
“Offshore wind transmission New York Halted is significant,” said John B. Howard, a former PSC chairman. “The Climate Act is not operational. “We’re obviously going to be way past the emission deadlines.
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The Trump Shadow Still Looms
New York clean energy policy once made the state a national leader in clean energy innovation. But the P.S.C.’s stepping on the brakes of transmission lines essential for offshore wind integration shows a structural weakness one that would have become clear if it became impossible to get the wind-generated electricity to where it is most needed, New York City and left those targets a pipe dream.
Offshore wind projects in the United States, which have long been stymied along the East Coast, are facing a critical, make-or-break moment as a flurry of developers push to bring the turbines to American waters. The United States was rushing toward its 2030 clean energy goals, even New York clean energy goals — delivering clean electricity to trillion NYC homes and creating thousands of renewable energy jobs — but several new federal policy reversals under the former president, Donald Trump, are progressing the opposite.
Just yesterday, California’s clean energy companies were warning of this. They urged Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers to act quickly in response to drastic changes to federal tax policy under Trump. Industry leaders said the revisions endanger billions of dollars in investments in renewable energy and could upend California’s ambitious clean energy goals.
And all of this anxiety comes hot on the heels of another huge blow — the U.S. Department of the Interior last Friday said it would stop fast-tracking approval for solar and wind projects on federal land. And now, the effects have landed in New York.
In a surprise move today, the New York State Public Service Commission, PSC halts wind transmission lines that would carry offshore wind power to New York City and downstate. Without this crucial infrastructure in place, the most ambitious offshore wind projects will be unable to deliver electricity to homes and businesses—and their promise will remain unrealized.
“For now, offshore wind remains a promise deferred in New York.”
New York offshore Wind Projects already in the queue or under contract will likely move forward, but without the necessary transmission assets, it’s unlikely that much more development or full scale expansion will take place. State officials say the decision to pause is calculated and temporary, a safeguard to protect ratepayers at a time of political and economic volatility. But with the flawed and shifting landscape of federal support, the long-term roadmap now seems even more nebulous.
About offshore wind transmission New York — South Fork Wind — a great example of New York offshore Wind Projects, just completed in spring 2024 with creating nearly 1000 green jobs in 5 states — would connect offshore wind farms in the Atlantic Ocean to substations in the New York City metropolitan area, are now in legal limbo. Without these projects, there would be no practical way to transport the energy even if offshore wind farms were built.
Energy sources say the decision has the state’s green energy law “in shambles,” and throws into question the future of offshore wind as a significant power source for downstate New York.
Ratepayer Risk Amid Federal Paralysis
Beneath the PSC’s order looms the fear that New Yorkers, stuck with higher utility rates to pay for infrastructure that may never be used, could be left holding the bag. Customers of gas and electric utilities would have covered the costs of the transmission lines — a long-term investment that was financially viable only if the offshore wind projects went forward.
But it’s the refusal of the Trump administration to grant new offshore wind leases and permits in its term that has paralyzed certain pivotal developments. The Biden administration has since resumed permitting, but the PSC remains leery, warning that future federal elections might return more opponents to power, threatening long-term projects.
“There is no time to wait. The lowest-cost energy future for New York will feature a significant complement of offshore wind,” Alliance for Clean Energy New York and New York Offshore Wind Alliance (NYOWA) said in a joint statement. “We need our state to invest in transmission infrastructure and bolster a grid that will be able to accommodate the increasing demand for energy and at the same time save ratepayers money over the long term.”
The two groups maintain that if nothing is done New York risks being left lagging in the national race toward clean energy supremacy.
Politics and Permits: Trump’s Lasting Influence
Ørsted aims to create an ecosystem in which offshore wind and fishing can both thrive image: South Fork Wind Farm
The Trump administration’s wariness of offshore wind left a mark. Crucial permit freezes, regulatory barriers, and public resistance made for hostile local conditions for developers and financiers. And in the friendlier federal climate ushered in by President Biden, the scars remain, especially as at the state level, where projects take years to build and often require the support of many consecutive political administrations to finish.
New York Offshore wind projects can take more than a decade to develop — and that span frequently overlaps with tumultuous political cycles. Even small uncertainties can cause investment to freeze and execution to be postponed.
The PSC’s hesitation reflects that reality, and is not entirely unexpected given the political winds.
Hochul’s Balancing Act
Gov. Kathy Hochul, a longtime proponent of New York’s transition to renewable energy, had the PSC’s careful approach to the issue. And while saying she remained committed to clean energy and looking to shield ratepayers from financial risks associated with an uncertain federal support, an American Recovery Plan advocated the need for pocketbook protections.
“Governor Hochul has fiercely supported and remains committed to renewable energy projects, including offshore wind, but there is no doubt that, in this era of federal uncertainty, New York ratepayers need to be protected,” said Ken Lovett, her senior advisor for energy and the environment.
“In light of the political hostility to New York offshore wind projects from the federal government, and the consequent economic uncertainties surrounding such projects, we believe the PSC is correct that it would be unfair to burden ratepayers with the costs of a project that is not likely to produce any real benefits,” Lovett said. “When conditions are more favorable, we will be ready to proceed quickly.”
Offshore Wind Transmission New York Halted, Advocates React
The decision — PSC halts wind transmission lines, has been criticized by the clean energy industry as short-sighted. Advocates say that halting the development of new long-distance transportation now simply worsens the longer-term climate crisis, and that it lets fossil fuel infrastructure reign in the meantime.
“We appreciate concerns about cost — but inaction is even costlier: the cost of an increasingly damaged climate,” said Anne Reynolds, Executive Director of the Alliance for Clean Energy New York. “Delaying transmission is delaying progress.”
Trump offshore wind opposition decision by New York could cast a chill on the rest of the offshore wind industry in the Northeast at a time when states such as New Jersey, Massachusetts and Rhode Island are moving forward with their own transmission and wind deployment plans.
What’s Next?
For the moment, offshore wind lies as a promise deferred in New York. New York offshore Wind Projects that are already under contract can go forward, but there is little chance of further expansion to reach full scale without the “wires” to move the power. State officials emphasize that the pause is temporary and the result of strategy — the road ahead is hazier without more significant federal support, however.
The latest comes amid mounting frustration in the renewable energy industry. Now, offshore wind — long an iconic symbol of forward-looking climate ambition — is ensnared in a battle between state ambition and federal skepticism. Now, projects that require at least a decade of work to develop and build face a crucial question: Can they survive politics that are in a constant state of flux?
As climate deadlines loom and the demand for clean energy grows, the question is no longer whether the United States can lead the world in renewable energy — it’s whether it can regain lost momentum in time.
Can New York Catch the wind once again before it blows past?
Source — New York Post — https://nypost.com/2025/07/17/us-news/new-york-halts-offshore-wind-power-lines-citing-trump-opposition/
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CaliforniaClean energy companies across the state are calling on Governor Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers to act swiftly in response to sweeping federal tax policy changes under President Donald Trump that risk billions of dollars in renewable energy investments and prompt challenges to California’s clean energy goals.
In a letter that went out earlier this week, five major clean energy trade groups, including the California Wind Energy Association and Solar Energy Industries Association, recently warned that Trump’s newly passed Republican-backed tax and spending law is creating significant roadblocks for continuing and forthcoming solar energy investments and wind energy projects in the Golden State. These organizations allege that California’s standing as a global leader on climate is at risk without state-level action.
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Federal Tax Credits for Renewables Risk Being Rolled Back
At the center of the anxiety is a provision in the new federal law that phases out important renewable energy tax credits, beginning after 2026, for projects that have not yet started construction. Projects that start after the deadline will need to be on-line by the end of 2027 to receive any remaining incentives.
Complicating the matter, Trump has ordered the U.S. Treasury Department to issue rules that would limit who can still qualify for these tax credits by which energy developers. This extra uncertainty makes it likely that dozens of utility-scale solar, wind and energy storage projects will now be delayed.
“These modifications introduce a new and grave risk of delay or outright cancellation for dozens of clean power projects,” the letter asserts. “We are pulling ahead and we are happy with the progress,” he said, “but without immediate reform at the state level, California’s clean energy investments — and the jobs that come with them — are at risk.”
California’s Clean Energy Goals
California has established some of the most ambitious climate and renewable energy targets in the world. The state recently said that more than two-thirds of its 2023 retail electricity sales qualified as coming from renewable and zero carbon-emitting sources, and all across onlookers struggle to cope with the speed at which it is leading the global energy transition.
Reversing federal support for California clean energy is in stark contrast to the state’s climate vision and clean energy policy agenda, including the mandate for 100% clean electricity by 2045. Many of those developers have already invested heavily in California’s energy infrastructure, from solar farms to wind energy projects to battery storage.
Trade Groups Urge California to Put It in a Higher Gear
In their letter, the five trade groups, which are the Large-scale Solar Association, California Energy Storage Alliance and American Clean Power Association (California chapter) called on the state to do four things:
Speed up approval for environmental permits and harmonies regulation for renewable energy schemes.
Expand clean energy purchasing, especially from utility-scale wind and solar developers.
Permit clean energy projects on farmland, which is underutilized for utility scale energy development.
Strengthen investment in grid infrastructure for managing higher levels of renewable energy tax credits and maintaining energy reliability.
If California can expedite these reforms, the groups say, the state can insulate itself from the consequences of federal rollbacks and maintain renewable energy momentum.
Wind Power in Texas Is Another Story entirely
While California is in limbo, in a tale of stark contrast, here’s what is happening in Texas wind energy projects policy. We have even seen Republican-majority states, such as Texas, achieve success developing the nations largest wind energy industry, not by government mandate but by offering market-based incentives and less onerous permitting processes that attract investment in renewable infrastructure.
Wind power’s growth in Texas is an example of how bipartisan support — or, at least, pragmatic policy — can help speed up the growth of clean energy. With federal support declining, California may soon have to turn to the Texas model of wind energy if the state wants to maintain its energy transition goals.
Jobs, Reliability and Clean Power Are at Stake
Not only does the rollback represent a major threat to renewable energy developers, but it threatens thousands of the clean energy jobs that exist. If projects get put on hold or canceled, the economic effect could reverberate across jobs in construction, operations, engineering and maintenance.
And the uncertainty threatens grid reliability, particularly as California confronts increasing power demands and the need to replace retiring fossil fuel plants with clean options. The rollback would imperil jobs, stability and progress toward California’s clean energy goals, according to the letter.
The state especially benefits from the clean energy sector. In 2023 alone, solar and wind projects led to the creation of thousands of high-wage jobs and investment in rural towns. This loss of momentum could have far-reaching consequences for both climate goals and long-term economic resilience.
California Clean Energy Developers Raise Alarms as Federal Support Fades
This is a pivotal moment in the energy transition in the United States. The Biden administration had sought to reduce the shift toward clean energy by broadening tax breaks in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) but the rollback by Trump would negate much of the push.
The decision to trump clean energy rollback the federal energy tax credit is viewed by many in the industry as a big step in the wrong direction. Developers worry the uncertainty of future regulatory environments could scare off investment, particularly in long-lead-time projects such as offshore wind or grid-scale storage.
Clean energy backers are imploring more Democratic states to draw up backup plans akin to what California wants to do in order to shield renewable energy development from swinging federal policy.
Conclusion: It Takes State Action to Protect Clean Energy Gains
As California goes forward, the decision is unmistakable: without urgent state action, the rollbacks in federal support for clean energy could stall crucial projects, shake investor confidence in the market and set back the state’s progress toward an energy future free from carbon.
The industry leaders’ letter sends a strong signal: Federal energy policy may be on its back foot, but states like California still have the tools in hand to protect and advance their visions of a clean power future — if they use them boldly.
The office of Gov. Newsom has not responded publicly. Yet the pressure to answer that question is getting louder, with billions of dollars in California clean energy investments on the line and California’s climate leadership in the balance.
A New Roadblock: Personal Sign-Off Now Necessary to Approve Solar and Wind Projects on Federal Land
Trump Administration Halts Wind Projects on Federal Land! On a front the White House had hoped to leave untouched, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has been ordered to sign off personally on all solar and wind project approvals on federal lands, in a sweeping change that could upend plans to expand renewables development in the country, according to a confidential memo obtained by POLITICO.
The directive, transmitted Wednesday to staff at the Interior Department, applies a new level of vetting to clean energy projects and complexes on hundreds of millions of acres across this huge swath of federally managed land, including some of the most sun- and wind-rich patches in the country.
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Bottleneck to Approving Permits Along Large Areas of Renewable Land
The memo — written by Gregory Wischer, Interior’s deputy chief of staff for policy — stipulates that Burgum must sign off on “all decisions, actions, consultations, and other work” on wind and solar projects. That includes:
Scoping reports
Access road authorizations
Cost recovery agreements
Construction permits
Environmental review stages
Such cradle-to-grave review would also allow the consideration of the greenhouse gas pollution and public health implications of the projects, officials familiar with the memo said, and could place a significant regulatory burden on billions of dollars of previous projects moving through the pipeline.
A Strategic Move Against Wind and Solar Growth
The directive would seem to fit into a larger effort by the Trump administration to reduce support for renewable energy. One recent executive order, signed earlier this month, declared a national energy emergency and asked federal agencies to do everything they could to bolster dispatchable energy sources—even though it didn’t include wind and solar on the list of power sources in that category, or no new solar and wind project approvals.
The federal land energy policy order also directs the Interior Department to review its existing policies to determine whether they give “preferential treatment” to renewables over traditional forms of energy like coal, gas and oil.
Effect on Trump Administration Halts Wind Projects on Federal Land
Now, federal lands energy policy generate some 4% of the U.S.’s renewable power, or about 8.9 GW, according to a 2024 report by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The research as potential for:
5.75 TWp of utility-scale solar power
875,000,000 acres of potential land based wind energy
When environmental and social are in line, the realistic output will narrow down to:
1,750 GW for solar
70 GW for wind
That remaining development potential is put at risk by the new Interior directive.
Expert: “This Will Paralyze Renewable Energy Permitting.”
The former Federal Permitting Council executive director, Eric Beightel, who served under then-President Biden described the action as a “bureaucratic chokehold.”. Photo: linkedln
The former Federal Permitting Council executive director, Eric Beightel, who served under then-President Biden described the action as a “bureaucratic chokehold.”
“It will absolutely generate a huge amount of red tape that there is no way solar can move and wind can move at all fast or efficiency or even get over the line,” Beightel said to POLITICO.
“This is nakedly an effort to weaponize ‘the process.’
Interior Has Sharp Rebuke for Leaked Memo
In response to questions about the leaked memo, the Interior Department released a scathing statement:
“Let’s be clear: leaking internal documents to the media is cowardly, dishonest and violates professional standards,” a spokesman said.
“It’s a symptom of what is wrong in Washington today,” a spokesman for Mr. Cotton, James Arnold, said in a statement, adding, “It shows complete disregard for the hardworking people serving the American people.
Political Context: Bipartisan Support Turns to Administrative Clampdown
President Donald Trump, has frequently voiced opposition of certain renewable energy projects, advocation traditional sources.
But having signed the bipartisan 2020 Energy Act to encourage development of clean energy on federal lands, President Trump is now retreating with new policies that would hit America’s wind and solar sectors hard. His administration is working to rewrite what constitutes, it deems, a project’s construction start, which could cut off access to vital tax credits for renewable energy — and put great big wind and solar projects at risk. The newly enacted “Big Beautiful Act” comes wrapped in new layers of regulation empowering federal agencies to block or slow clean energy development. Critics say this turn of events is a bureaucratically engineered assault on renewables that is seeking to quietly choke clean energy with red tape. In a bitter irony — that one of the key components of the legacy of renewables support put in place by Trump is Trump himself, under pressure from House Republicans — the President aligned to derail the progress of the nation toward a renewable future.
The whole thing has confirmed for our readers what Trump’s recent wave of executive orders and legislation has already betrayed: a bedrock political philosophy born of an even deeper conviction that renewable energy can’t be trusted, a conviction consistent with his past complaints that wind turbines are unsightly and job-destroying. This, even though federal figures indicate that wind and solar now employ more Americans than coal mining and oil-and-gas extraction combined.
Should these policies persist, the U.S. even risks lagging behind global clean energy leaders, especially in wind-rich and solar-rich places such as the Southwest, Midwest and offshore East Coast.
What This Means for the U.S. Transition to Clean Energy
The action could hobble Biden-era ambitions to pull down utility-scale renewables across federal land even as the administration charts a path to 2035 clean energy goals.
The term “energy transition” alludes to the transition happening worldwide — that is, from dirty, polluting fossil fuels (namely coal, oil and gas) to clean, renewable sources, like wind, sunlight, water (in the form of hydro) and heat from the earth. It also comprises increasing energy efficiency, upgrading power grids and integrating electric vehicles, batteries and low-carbon technologies.
Trump administration halts solar and wind projects, implemented policies hat slowed the growth of wind and solar energy in the USA
And the transition to renewable energy and solar and wind project approvals isn’t simply an environmental necessity — it’s a strategic choice that will safeguard the nation’s economic and public health future. With fossil fuels still responsible for the majority of carbon emissions, the transition to clean energy — including wind and solar — is critical to addressing the threat of climate change and protecting the environment and the economy for future generations. Renewable energy also has national security benefits, by making the nation less dependent on imported oil and providing a more secure energy supply at home. Economically, the transition is an engine for job growth, with the clean energy sector expected to create millions of good-paying jobs across the country. And cutting air and water pollution gives a big boost to public health — to take just one consideration, we would have a lot less respiratory disease. As renewables become the cheapest source of power, families should get cheaper energy bills. By investing in clean energy now, we can keep the U.S. competitive in the global economy, drive innovation and secure an energy system we can rely on well into the future.
Trump energy policy emphasized fossil fuels
President Biden has articulated a strong goal that America be on a path to achieve 100 percent carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035 clean energy goals — a critical milestone on the way to net-zero emissions by 2050. This would involve spurring through more renewable energy like wind and solar, new plans for how to move electricity and invest in clean technologies. Under Biden’s plan, it’s crucial to use public lands as a place for staging large renewable projects — those that make meaningful contributions to our nation’s quest for energy independence and ability to lower utility bills, as well as stimulate job growth. The administration’s clean energy agenda is projected to create millions of union jobs, lower household energy bills and improve public health by slashing pollution. It will also be a long-term goal, aimed at not only addressing climate change but also seeing to it that clean, affordable energy is available to every American community: urban and rural, rich and poor. Now the Doug Burgum interior directive the renewable energy permitting delays and administration halts the solar and wind project approvals, altogether 2035 clean energy goals is far away to achieve.
The other danger is that if these policies stay in effect, the U.S. could very well fall grievously behind other global competitors in the market to scale green power production, given that we have more than 70 GW of land-based wind potential and more than 1,700 GW of solar powerdevelopment technically available.
Lastly
About the federal land energy policy — this a War on Wind and Solar by Process not Policy. While no official nationwide ban on renewable energy has been offered, the combination of Interior Department control, tax credit reinterpretation and the passage of the Big Beautiful Act does suggest an increasing move against clean energy — not necessarily by outright ban, but by bureaucratic strangulation.
Even as Trump’s staff undercuts fairness and regulatory integrity, renewable energy permitting delays, people in the industry and the clean energy advocacy community are seeing the writing on the wall: a concerted effort to slow America’s clean energy future.
The memo – federal land energy policy, leaked on Friday is a sharp about-face for the Interior Department’s approach to solar and wind development and left some renewable energy advocates worried about the future of clean energy development on federal lands. Even though the memo itself has not been released to the public, the implications of its contents, first federal land energy policy reported by POLITICO, are already being felt and the clean energy industry.
Teesside, 15 July 2025 — RWE has reached a significant construction milestone at its flagship Sophia offshore wind farm with the 100th steel monopile foundation for a project located on Dogger Bank, 195 kilometers off the UK’s north-east coast – now the latest to be successfully installed, marking the end of a complex 14-month offshore foundation campaign.
When operational, the 1.4 gigawatt (GW) project will have enough clean electricity generation capacity to power 1.2 million typical UK homes annually, further supporting the UK’s renewable energy targets and energy security.
Dutch marine contractor Van Oord led the foundation installation operation under a comprehensive EPCI (engineering, procurement, construction and installation) contract. The company used its upgraded jack-up vessel Aeolus, which was equipped with a custom 1,650-tonne capacity crane, to handle Sofia’s heaviest monopiles – each monopile forming the basis for a 252-metre-long Siemens Gamesa 14 MW turbine.
Sven Uttermoehl, CEO of RWE Offshore Wind, praised the achievement, cited: “The successful completion of the monopile installation in Sofia is an important milestone in the implementation of this complex offshore wind construction project. This achievement is a testament to the expertise, dedication and collaboration of our partners across the RWE Group. Sofia will play a key role in contributing to the UK’s clean energy transition and strengthening energy security.”
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RWE advances Sofia offshore wind farm with industry-leading innovation and sustainable solutions
With the successful installation of all monopile foundations, a milestone in this regard, Van Oord has begun the next major phase at the Sofia offshore wind farm – the installation of approximately 360 km of array cables, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. Meanwhile, as we already know from the progress of turbine installation, 27 of the 100 Siemens Gamesa 14 MW turbines have already been installed – half of which with recyclable blades, reinforcing Sofia’s role as a global model for sustainable offshore wind.
Sofia, the first offshore wind project worldwide to commit to using Siemens Gamesa 14 MW turbines during its initial development, will demonstrate its leadership in technology adoption. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the technical and engineering innovations that will transform Sofia into a next-generation clean energy project.
Cutting-edge design and environmental innovation
Steel monopile foundations installed at Dogger Bank for Sofia Offshore Wind Farm, 195 km off the UK coast
A number of modern design innovations have been used and adapted. Here In contrast to traditional offshore foundations, separate transition pieces are used, with the design for Sophia using extended single-piece monopiles. Manufactured by EEW, this approach reduces total steel usage, reducing the project’s carbon footprint and material requirements.
In another UK first, the project has installed a full-scale bubble curtain noise abatement system for 34 foundation installations. Operated by Hydrotechnic Offshore, the technology protects marine species in the environmentally sensitive Southern North Sea Special Area of Conservation (SAC), helping to reduce underwater noise.
Port of Tyne 1.4 GW offshore Wind Farm
Foundation components stored at Port of Tyne for RWE’s Sofia project, highlighting offshore wind supply chain infrastructure.
All offshore foundation elements were marshalled and stored at the Port of Tyne, where significant infrastructure investment is being made to meet the logistical needs of Sophia. This has enhanced the port’s role in future offshore wind developments across the North East of England.
Leading sustainable turbine technology
Recyclable turbine blade with specialist resin system developed by Siemens Gamesa, ordered for Sofia Offshore Wind Farm.
Next up in turbine technology, the reusable blades used on Sophia are made with a specialist resin system that enables full recyclability and mark the largest order of this type of blade at the time of purchase. The Turba initiative not only supports the circular economy but also paves the way for environmentally-conscious offshore wind development worldwide.
Increased grid capacity
To maximize energy export efficiency, Sophia has increased its grid connection capacity from 1,000 MW to 1,320 MW, using advanced high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technology with voltage source converters. This allows for increased transmission capacity, helping to deliver cleaner energy to homes in the UK. And planning the world’s longest offshore export cable, spanning 220 kilometers, required highly specialized engineering to overcome the challenges of laying the infrastructure through complex seabed conditions.
World-class vessel and equipment installation
Sophia is set to be the first offshore wind farm to use the world’s most advanced cable-laying vessel, Prysmian’s Leonardo da Vinci. Equipped with:
The highest cable carousel capacity on the market
Double the industry-average capstan capacity
A DP3 dynamic positioning system
Hybrid propulsion and 90-day operational autonomy
The vessel will enable installation in water depths of up to 3,000 meters, making it ideal for the project’s demanding offshore environment.
Innovations in cable construction and sustainability
Installation of recyclable HPTE-insulated HVDC cables for Sofia’s onshore grid connection, reducing carbon emissions by 40%.
The onshore HVDC cable will incorporate a patented High-Performance Thermoplastic Elastomer (HPTE) insulation system—a fully recyclable, zero-emission process that reduces carbon emissions by 40% compared to conventional methods.
Onshore civil engineering contractor JMS has used innovative construction techniques to optimize efficiency and safety:
V-buckets, which reduce trenching time and heavy equipment passes
A duct trailer system that eliminates the need for workers in trenches when installing ducts
A sand truck that reduces trenching time when installing cement-bound sand
Cutting-edge wind farm layout and infrastructure efficiency
Recyclable turbine blade with specialist resin system developed by Siemens Gamesa, ordered for Sofia Offshore Wind Farm.
The Sophia team has developed a highly optimized array layout to maximize energy production. The design of the offshore converter platform has also been significantly streamlined, using fewer materials and reducing overall project costs compared to previous designs used in Germany.
Strategic collaboration with the adjacent Dogger Bank Sea Wind Farm project is enabling Sophia to achieve cost-sharing and technological synergies, increasing efficiency in both developments.
Collaborative Procurement and Risk Management
Using a holistic, experience-led procurement strategy, RWE worked closely with potential supply chain partners at the pre-tender stage to align contract models. This approach allowed for effective risk allocation, ensuring the lowest possible overall project cost while maintaining high innovation standards. It also contributed to the record-breaking Levelized Cost of Energy (LCoE) for Sofia.
Regulatory Innovation and Environmental Protection
RWE has pioneered several advances in environmental management and compliance:
Integrated LiDAR and sky digital survey for seabird monitoring – a novel application of proven technology for ornithological research.
Proposed the use of low-order deflagration to neutralize unexploded ordnance (UXO), which significantly reduces underwater noise and marine impact compared to traditional detonations.
RWE is active in high-level environmental research initiatives such as ORJIP II and OWSMRF, which aim to close knowledge gaps and reduce compliance risks for future offshore projects.
Investing in UK offshore innovation through ORE Catapult
“Leonardo da Vinci cable-laying vessel at work on Sofia Offshore Wind Farm, equipped with high-capacity carousel and hybrid propulsion.
As part of its commitment to UK offshore wind innovation, SOFIA has supported the 2023 ORE Catapult Launch Academy, a nine-month programme designed to accelerate early-stage technology development. Ten UK-based companies have been selected, including:
Aquatech Group, known for its innovative cable monitoring and protection
Wildcat Films to Integrate Radar into Bird Survey
This collaboration will highlight Sophia’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of offshore wind technology and environmental solutions.
With its advanced design, sustainability-first approach and pioneering technology, the Sophia Offshore Wind Farm sets new industry standards and exemplifies how large-scale offshore wind can deliver clean, affordable and reliable energy. Once operational, this 1.4 GW wind farm is set to power 1.2 million UK homes, reinforcing RWE’s leadership in the global transition to renewable energy.
Sophia Offshore Wind Farm at a Glance
Total capacity: 1.4 GW
Offshore wind project location: 195 km off the north-east coast of the UK (Dogger Bank)
Total depth: 20-35 meters
Number of turbines: 100 x Siemens Gamesa 14 MW
Energy generated: around 1.2 million
Construction Stats: 2021
Expected to complete : 2025
Developer: RWE Offshore Wind
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the Sofia Offshore Wind Farm?
Sofia Offshore Wind Farm is a 1.4 gigawatt (GW) offshore wind project constructed by the RWE. Situated 195 kilometers from the UK’s northeast coast on Dogger Bank, it is one of the world’s biggest and most state-of-the-art offshore wind farm, and will power 1.2 million homes every year with renewable and clean energy.
The Sofia Offshore Wind Farm – who is building it?
Offshore wind power giant, RWE is leading the development and construction of the project. Among key suppliers are Van Oord, which will provide the foundation and the cable installation, and Siemens Gamesa which will deliver 14 MW wind turbines, complete with a recyclable blade design.
Sofia Offshore Wind Farm, where is it?
Sofia is situated 195 kilometres from shore at Dogger Bank in the North Sea around 195km off the coast of Teesside in the UK’s North Sea. It is located in water depths of 20-35 metres, on a sock the equivalent size to the Isle of Man – so one of the remotest and most challenging UK offshore wind farm developments to reach completion.
How many houses will be lit by the Sofia Wind Farm?
When fully operational, the Sofia Offshore Wind Farm will be capable of supplying power to around 1.2 million average UK homes, playing a major part in the UK’s ongoing transition to a clean, green energy system and providing the up to 1000 jobs the project is currently creating.
What sort of turbines are being used in the Sofia project?
The project features a total of 100 Siemens Gamesa 14 MW turbines, 50 of which have recyclable blades, marking a world first at this scale. The wind turbines are some of the largest on the market and are an impressive step in wind turbine technology.
What are the recyclable wind turbine blades — and why are they significant?
Recyclable wind turbine blades require a special-class resin system that can be broken down into individual materials at end of life. This will help advance a more sustainable offshore wind industry, reduce landfill waste and drive greater circular economy in the UK’s renewable energy efforts.
Which cable technologies are applied in the Sofia Wind Farm?
Sofia has both array and export cables. It will use 360 km of array cables and the longest ever offshore wind export cable in the world (220 km) using HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current) technology with voltage source converters. This enables more efficient power transmission and capacity is also up by 320 MW from 1000 MW.
What is HVDC technology and how can it benefit offshore wind farms?
The high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission makes it possible to carry electricity for long distances at lower losses than the AC transmission. Sofia can deliver 1.32GW of wind power effectively to the UK grid and help meet renewable targets by using HVDC with VSC technology.
Sofia’s offshore wind cable installation: What’s so special?
Sofia is the first assignment of Leo, the world’s most advanced cable-laying vessel, which has started working on the project. It features:
Largest carousel capacity available
Hybrid propulsion for reduced emissions
Deep sea cables laying ability (up to 3,000 meters)
These new designs ensure that cable is laid more safely, efficiently and environmentally friendly.
What is Sofia doing to make construction less harmful to the environment?
Sofia has used bubble curtain noise mitigation systems during monopile installation in support of marine mammal conservation in the Southern North Sea Special Area of Conservation. It also employs low-order deflagration for UXO clearance, reducing impact on underwater noise.
Which ports and infrastructure does the Sofia Wind Farm use?
Foundation components and material are marshalled and distributed from the Port of Tyne. “The port has invested heavily into accommodating this major offshore wind development, which has significantly boosted the renewable energy supply chain in North East England.
What is RWE’s position in offshore wind on a global basis?
RWE is a global offshore wind development leader. The Sofia Offshore Wind Farm is currently the largest of RWE’s offshore wind farms under construction worldwide and one of the largest infrastructure projects in the UK, reinforcing the company’s ambition to play a part in the UK’s clean energy future and support its path to net zero.
What does the Sofia Wind Farm do to drive down costs of offshore wind energy?
Coupled with novel procurement strategies, innovative asset financing mechanisms, simplified converter station design, and a strategic collaboration with adjacent Dogger Bank C, Sofia has delivered market-leading levelized cost of energy (LCoE) offers, helping to reduce the costs of offshore wind.
What is the ORE Catapult Launch Academy and what role does Sofia have?
Sofia has backed the 2023 ORE Catapult Launch Academy, which aims to fast-track UK offshore wind innovation. The project chose firms from the UK in Aquatec Group and Wildcat Films to help drive forward cable protection systems and ornithological monitoring technologies.
This huge increase in renewable power generation is one element of China’s overall plan to improve energy security, slash dependence on imported fossil fuels, and make climate targets well before the UN Climate Change Conference in Belém, Brazil.
China’s pipeline of utility-scale wind power has grown to 593 GW and nearly 223 GW is currently under construction—more than 45% of total global wind energy development. The total installed wind power capacity in the country is now more than 700 GW, and the new capacity added reached 357 GW in 2024, which became a new record in the world.
China has firmly cemented its lead in both onshore and offshore wind, contributing to energy security, industrial and global decarbonization targets, the GEM said.
According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, clean energy also accounted for 25% of China’s GDP growth in 2024. The analysis also highlights the increasing role of offshore wind (28 GW), particularly in industrial coastal provinces with plans to decarbonize.
“China is now dominating the world in the build-out of renewable energy,” GEM said, adding that the country may soon claim the title as the world’s first true “electrostate.”
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ChinaOffshore Wind Development Industrial Coast
China is quickly expanding its offshore wind capabilities, with its coastal provinces — from Guangdong to Jiangsu and Shandong — rushing to build offshore wind farms. The capacity of offshore wind has jumped from less than 5 GW in 2018 to 42.7 GW in 2025, and another 28 GW are under construction. There are 67GW in the pipeline offshore of projects – including state-of-the-art floating wind projects and grid connections to help support new green hydrogen plants that are being developed.
“Offshore wind is now especially important in the decarbonization of China’s industrial heartlands,” said GEM researcher Mengqi Zhang.
Transition from Fossil Fuels, Enhancing Energy Security
China’s strategy is based on: Wind power is central to China’s efforts to:
Reduce coal and oil imports
Enhance energy independence
Cut industrial emissions
Get the power grid into the twenty-first century and on solid ground.
The National Energy Administration notes that in Q1 2025, wind turbine electricity consumption accounted for nearly 12% of electricity consumption, which was more than thermal power scale. Wind power is central to China’s goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2060.
Mega Wind Projects Are the Global Scale In another
China Wind Energy 2025 – Notable wind projects:
Ultra-high-capacity wind farms in Ningxia (16 GW and up)
Shandong Offshore Mega cluster (10+ GW floating platforms)
Ultra-high voltage wind-to-grid corridors between Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang and coastal provinces
Those rely on advanced, often greater than 16 MW, turbines built by names such as Goldwind, Mingyang and Envision.
Wind Energy Projects Under Construction in China
Metric
Value
Wind-Solar Energy Pipeline (Announced + Under Development)
593 GW
Wind Projects Under Construction
223 GW
Share of Global Wind Construction
~45%
Operational Wind Capacity
700+ GW
Offshore Wind Operational
42.7 GW
Offshore Wind Under Construction
28 GW
Offshore Wind Pipeline
67 GW
Global Leadership and Implications
China’s wind energy policy goes beyond the transformation at home—it is changing global markets and establishing models for the clean energy future. The country now:
Home to the world’s largest wind fleet, with more installed and under-construction capacity than any other country.
Produces more than 70 percent of the world’s wind turbine parts, including blades, nacelles, towers and power converters. Goldwind, Mingyang, and Envision, are only some of the world’s top companies which have exported significantly to Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe.
Forwards in wind-to-hydrogen integration, with multiple “pilot” projects using excess wind energy to produce green hydrogen, for transport, industry and power storage.
Leaders of Floating Offshore Wind in the Asia-Pacific region, with the use of deep sea resources and advanced offshore engineering, to install turbines in areas which previously experienced limitations.
Together with government supported innovation and targeted export promotion, these unparalleled scales have reduced global costs of wind power technology. These types of partnerships are particularly beneficial for emerging countries because they have access to cheap turbine imports, financing of projects, and technical support. This is why China’s wind power success, which has not occurred in a vacuum, is not just a success for the nation, it is also one of the drivers of the world-wide move to clean energy.
Looking Ahead to COP30
With the 2025 UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil on the horizon, all eyes are on China’s upcoming climate commitments. The Chinese government has indicated it will release stronger national targets in line with the nation’s long term carbon neutrality commitment. These could include, according to policy insiders and analysts:
Increasing the countrywide wind share in China’s energy mix to hasten fossil fuel replacement.
Creating separate industrial hubs for offshore wind – especially in coastal-prone Jiangsu, Shandong and Guangdong – to smooth permitting, supply chain and grid connection.
Implementing national green hydrogen targets, with some of the production requirement coming from wind-powered electrolysis, in industrial clusters.
Introduction of a single program for offshore wind leasing, to drive transparency and scalability for use of the seabed and infrastructure planning, based on the leading systems in the U.S. and Europe.
These policies will ensure that China continues to be not only the world’s largest wind power installer as china wind power capacity growth makes china Global wind energy leader, but also China playing a leading role in COP30, its announcements are expected to determine the direction of international climate negotiations and global flows of renewable energy investment.
Offshore Wind: Opportunities and Challenges
Whilst we have seen phenomenal growth in offshore wind capacity, China is also experiencing technical, regulatory and environmental issues that need to be addressed if growth is to be sustainable and scaled. Key hurdles include:
Delays in grid connection, preventing efficient transmission of power from offshore farms to onshore networks.
Licensing difficulties – local, provincial, and national administrative authorities overlap each other, which creates administrative barriers.
Resilience to Typhoons, especially along coastlines surrounding the South China Sea and East China Sea, which require expensive, high-end turbine technology.
The cost of the deep-sea floating wind, as well as the logistics, are high, involving expensive anchoring, heavy-lift vessels and dedicated ports.
But ambition among the provinces living in Jiangsu, Guangdong and Fujian, in addition to government policy tools such as green finance, feed-in tariffs and central planning, ensures the sector continues to grow. Innovative offshore leasing mechanisms that draw their inspiration from global best practices are creating a conducive investment climate.
Committing to deep R&D on deep-sea foundations, subsea cables and typhoon-proof turbines places China on a path to overcoming barriers and further asserting its offshore wind leadership in Asia and beyond.
Wind Power as an Economic Engine
The effects of wind energy reaches far beyond environmental benefits into a strong economic powerhouse. Per the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA):
Wind and its upstream supply chain represented 25 percent of GDP growth in China in 2024.
And the sector has spawned more than 3 million jobs across dozens of industries.
The development of wind energy promotes grid modernization, smart converters, and logistics infrastructure.
China’s exports of wind technology — turbines, blades and electronics — are taking off, serving developing markets in Latin America, Africa and Southeast Asia.
From Energy User to “Electrostate”
Wind power now supplies a growing slice of China’s:
High-speed rail networks
Industrial robotics and manufacturing machinery
Urban heat and cold grids
Data centers and AI infrastructure
This shift is helping to create China as the world’s first emerging “electrostate” — an economy predominantly fueled by renewable electricity, notably wind power, that will fund a sustainable and resilient future.
Last Word
China’s plans for a major build-out of wind and solar plays a central role in the global renewable energy revolution this year. Nothing like China’s Wind Energy Surge in 2025 renewable energy expansion. With 510 GW of solar and wind in construction— 74% of the world’s total—and more than 1.5 TW already in operation, China is redrawing the rules of the global energy game.
From emerging as a clean energy economic powerhouse to aspiring to have the largest offshore wind fleet anywhere, China is, at the same time, a climate leader as well as a principal force behind international decarbonization.
As the world gears up for the UN Climate Conference, all eyes are much more on China – not just for its commitments, but for its unparalleled execution at scale..
📌 FAQs: China wind energy 2025 Booming
What is China’s wind power installed capacity in 2025?
Total wind power installed in China reached above 700 GW as of 2025, and it had 223 GW under construction at that year wind energy market in the world.
What portion of the world’s wind power is being designed in China?
China is also constructing nearly 45 percent of all wind projects globally, the Global Energy Monitor says. This consists of 223 GW of wind installed from the 2025 under construction.
China is investing heavily into wind power?
China’s wind push is spurred by its ambitions to cut imports of fossil fuels, strengthen energy security, meet its climate targets and position itself as the world’s supreme “electrostate” — an economy driven chiefly by electricity.
What is the role of offshore wind in China’s Energy Plan?
Offshore wind is vital for decarbonizing industrialized coastal regions such as Jiangsu and Guangdong. China has 42.7 GW in operation and 28 GW under construction offshore wind capacity in 2025.
Who are the major wind turbine manufacturers in China?
The top wind turbine companies in China are Goldwind, Mingyang, and Envision and their products, which are made up of more than 70 percent of the wind turbine parts and exported to the global markets.
What are the wind energy target for COP30?
In the lead-up to COP30, China will set out plans to increase national wind targets, offshore wind leasing programs, as well as green hydrogen mandates that are being driven by wind.
How does wind power contribute to China’s economy?
China’s GDP growth in 2024 gives 25pc credits to wind energy and 3 million jobs are related to the job sector in China, CREACentre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).
Is China leading the global transition to renewable energy?
Yes. China’s 510 GW of solar and wind projects under construction and more than 1.5 TW in operation is driving the world’s energy transition.
Baltic Power installed 15 MW turbines in Poland offshore wind farm, which is a joint undertaking by ORLEN Group and Canada-based Northland Power, has entered a record-breaking phase with the installation in the Baltic Sea of the first 15 MW wind turbines in Poland. In total 76 turbines will be installed at the project dubbed Baltic Power which will be Poland’s first offshore wind project and one of the most advanced in Central and Eastern Europe.
“This is the most important day for the entire offshore wind industry in Poland,” said Grzegorz Szabliński, the President of the Management Board of Baltic Power. “The first successful installation of a turbine offshore is now a fact.”
Once operational, the wind farm will have an installed capacity of 1.2 GW and produce 4 TWh of green electricity per year to supply more than 1.5 million Polish households and cover about 3% of Poland’s electricity grid demand. Commissioning is scheduled for 2026.
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Advanced 15 MW turbines Set New Benchmarks in Europe
Baltic Power is only the second offshore wind farm in Europe to start installing 15 MW turbines, and elevates Poland to the vanguard of large-scale renewables in the region. The turbines, V236-15. 0 MW, and are some of the biggest and most powerful in the world.
Each turbine features:
“Blade length around 115 meters.
DA 120: Swept area: about 43,700 m² – the equivalent of over six football fields
Tower is 120m, and the overall building height is 260m+
Nacelles three stories tall
Upper tower sections using recycled steel – a world-first for offshore wind
A single turbine can produce sufficient electricity to power an electric public bus for a journey of around 100 km within a minute.
Supply Chain Boosted By Local Production
Baltic Power is already contributing to the strength of the local industry by using Polish suppliers for the major components. Nacelles are being manufactured at the recently-opened Vestas factory in Szczecin, with other parts, including offshore substation topsides, onshore cables and some foundation elements, also made in Poland.
“This is a difficult, technically complex operation, but also an indispensable activity on the road to Poland’s clean energy future,” Szabliński said. “We’re not just putting in turbines, we’re building an industrial ecosystem.”
First Turbine Begins Installation at Sea Aboard Cadeler’s Wind Osprey
Installation is led by Cadeler, with a state-of-the-art O-class jack-up installation vessel the Wind Osprey, recently-upgraded in 2024 for the installation of large turbines.
Some of the Wind Osprey key specifications are given below:
160-meter length
11,000-ton jacking capacity
capacity with an above-deck reach of Niles 1600 tonnes with 160 meters.
Carrying capacity of 3 full turbine sets (tower, blades, nacelle) per trip
With a couple of other ships around the world being capable of performing these operations, we reserved Wind Osprey back in 2016 due to the limited global availability.
Learn more Logistical Complications at Sea and on Land
Work is currently being carried out on several construction fronts for the Baltic Power project. In the offshore area, 15 construction vessels are simultaneously installing foundations and transition pieces within the site area. Works for installing inter-array and export cables, as well as offshore substations have already started and are expected to be completed later this year.
Construction is also underway on the onshore grid substation, and work to establish a long-term operations and maintenance base in Łeba commenced in April. This site will be in use for a period of 30 years and will now even facilitate real-time coordination of offshore operations.
A Pioneering Step for Poland in the Era of Green Energy
Baltic Power is the first offshore wind project in Poland reaching such a high degree of physical maturity, and is, thus, also a new benchmark for future projects in the region. It is the only project in the country with an offshore construction process underway and is leading the way for the next generation of offshore wind infrastructure.
‘Applying such a large scale operation is all about planning, maritime logistics and engineering accuracy’ – Jens Poulsen, Project Director and Board Member, Baltic Power. “We have worked, and continue to work, diligently … to achieve safe, effective commissioning in 2020,” the company said.
Game-Changing for Poland’s Climate Aims
The Baltic Power offshore wind farm will provide significant environmental gains in addition to its technical and industrial advances. It is expected to prevent about 2.8 million tonnes of CO₂ per year at full operation compared to typical fossil-fuel generation.
Baltic Power, which has a capacity of 1.2 GW, is set to be a landmark in Poland’s move towards energy security, decarbonization and compliance with EU climate goals.
About Baltic Power:
Baltic Power is a 50/50 joint venture between Poland’s ORLEN Group and Canada’s Northland Power. Situated some 23 kilometers off the coast of Poland in the Baltic Sea, the project is the country’s first commercial offshore wind farm and one of the farthest offshore wind projects in the entire Central Eurpean region.
❓FAQ – Baltic Power Offshore Wind Farm
Q1: What is the Baltic Power project?
A: It is the first such project for Poland, built in the Baltic Sea by ORLEN Group and Northland Power.
Q2: How many turbines will be in the wind farm?
A: It will be deployed using 76 Vestas 15MW turbines.
Q3: What is the project’s commissioning date?
A: The wind farm will be fully operational by 2026.
Q4: What is the capacity and energy output of the project?
A: The farm, which will have a capacity of 1.2 GW, will produce 4 TWh per year — about as much as 1.5 million households use.
Q5: What makes the turbines especial?
A: The V236-15. 0 MW turbines are some of the most powerful in the world, with blades that stretch over 115 meters and are made in part from recycled steel.
Q6: Who is installing the product?
A: Cadeler is responsible for the transportation and installation with the vessel Wind Osprey.
