The United States offshore wind industry is entering a decisive phase.

After years of planning, leasing, and early construction, the period from 2026 to 2030 will determine whether offshore wind becomes a foundational pillar of the U.S. energy system—or remains a slower-moving niche technology.

This roadmap is not just about turbines in the water. It reflects policy stability, supply chain maturity, grid readiness, financing confidence, and state–federal coordination. While early projects faced delays and cost pressures, the next five years are expected to define the industry’s long-term trajectory.

As outlined in our Offshore Wind Energy Explained guide, offshore wind is central to U.S. decarbonization, coastal energy security, and industrial revitalization. The question now is not whether offshore wind will grow—but how fast, where, and under what conditions.

Why 2026–2030 Is a Critical Window for US Offshore Wind

The offshore wind timeline is front-loaded with complexity.

Leasing, permitting, environmental review, financing, and supply chain development often take 7–10 years before electricity reaches the grid. That means projects delivering power between 2026 and 2030 were largely conceived years earlier.

This window matters because:

• First utility-scale projects will reach full operation
• Federal leasing areas transition into construction zones
• State procurement targets move from paper to delivery
• Floating offshore wind enters early commercialization

Success—or failure—during this period will shape investor confidence well into the 2030s.

Current Status of US Offshore Wind (As of 2026)

As of early 2026, the U.S. offshore wind sector is moving from pre-commercial to early commercial deployment.

Key characteristics of the current market include:

• Operational projects remain limited but expanding
• Most capacity is concentrated on the East Coast
• Federal leasing has accelerated under BOEM
• Supply chain localization is still incomplete

The industry has faced headwinds, including inflation, interest rate volatility, and contract renegotiations. However, these challenges have also forced structural improvements in procurement models and risk allocation.

US Offshore Wind Capacity Outlook (2026–2030)

Expected Installed Capacity Growth

Between 2026 and 2030, U.S. offshore wind capacity is expected to move from single-digit gigawatts to multi-tens of gigawatts, depending on project execution and policy continuity.

While projections vary, the roadmap generally includes:

• Initial large-scale power delivery from East Coast projects
• Incremental annual capacity additions
• Early floating offshore wind pilots entering construction

This growth phase is less about speed and more about execution quality.

East Coast: Backbone of US Offshore Wind Growth

The U.S. East Coast will remain the backbone of offshore wind deployment through 2030.

Why the East Coast Leads

• A shallow continental shelf supports fixed-bottom foundations
• Proximity to major load centers
• Strong state-level procurement mandates
• Existing port and grid infrastructure

States such as New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Virginia anchor the national offshore wind pipeline.

Projects in this region are expected to:

• Move from construction to full operation
• Establish long-term O&M ecosystems
• Normalize offshore wind power pricing

Many of these developments align with the fixed-bottom offshore wind model described in our Floating vs Fixed-Bottom Offshore Wind Comparison.

West Coast: Floating Offshore Wind Takes Shape

Unlike the East Coast, offshore wind on the U.S. West Coast is defined by deep waters and steep seabed drop-offs.

Why Floating Offshore Wind Is Essential

• Water depths exceed fixed-bottom limits
• Narrow continental shelf
• High wind resources close to shore

As explained in our Floating Offshore Wind Energy Explained guide, floating platforms are the only viable solution for California, Oregon, and Washington.

Between 2026 and 2030, the roadmap includes:

• Completion of early floating wind design and permitting
• Port upgrades for floating assembly
• Initial pilot and demonstration projects

Gulf of Mexico: Emerging Opportunity

The Gulf of Mexico presents a different offshore wind profile.

Advantages include:

• Extensive offshore energy experience
• Established oil and gas supply chains
• Favorable port infrastructure

While wind speeds are lower than in the Atlantic, the region benefits from industrial readiness and workforce expertise. Hybrid energy hubs and smaller-scale projects may emerge between 2026 and 2030.

Federal Policy and BOEM Leasing Outlook

At the federal level, offshore wind is increasingly positioned as a strategic energy resource rather than a niche renewable technology.

U.S. Department of Energy analysis highlights offshore wind’s role in long-term grid reliability, domestic manufacturing, and emissions reduction, particularly as electricity demand grows from electrification and data centers. DOE planning documents also emphasize the need for coordinated transmission development, port infrastructure upgrades, and supply chain investment to support large-scale offshore wind deployment beyond the initial project pipeline.

Key federal drivers include:

• Lease auctions and site designations
• Environmental impact assessments
• Transmission coordination

Policy clarity during this period is essential to maintaining investor confidence.

Grid Infrastructure and Transmission Challenges

Grid integration is one of the most underestimated constraints in the U.S. offshore wind roadmap.

Key Challenges

• Limited offshore transmission planning
• Onshore substation congestion
• Permitting delays for grid upgrades

As offshore wind capacity increases, grid readiness—not turbine availability—may become the primary bottleneck.

Supply Chain and Port Development (2026–2030)

A resilient domestic supply chain is critical to meeting U.S. offshore wind targets. Supply chain readiness remains one of the most critical constraints on offshore wind growth, particularly as projects scale between 2026 and 2030. Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) market assessments show that port capacity, installation vessels, and localized manufacturing are now the primary bottlenecks for offshore wind deployment globally, including in emerging U.S. markets.

Between 2026 and 2030, priorities for strengthening the supply chain include:

• Turbine assembly ports
• Blade, tower, and foundation manufacturing
• Installation vessel availability
• Skilled workforce development

GWEC has repeatedly highlighted that without synchronized investment in ports and manufacturing, project timelines could face structural delays, regardless of permitting progress.

For a more detailed view of supply chain challenges and solutions, see our Offshore Wind Supply Chain analysis.

Investment, Financing, and Market Confidence

The financial environment from 2026 to 2030 will influence how quickly offshore wind scales.

Key factors include:

• Power purchase agreement (PPA) structures
• Interest rate trends
• Risk-sharing between developers and states

While early projects faced renegotiations, newer procurement models are showing greater flexibility—an essential condition for long-term market stability.

What the 2026–2030 Roadmap Means for the Future

The U.S. offshore wind roadmap through 2030 is less about headline capacity numbers and more about institutional maturity.

By the end of this period, the industry is expected to have:

• Operational reference projects
• A trained offshore wind workforce
• Improved grid coordination
• Early floating wind commercialization

If these foundations hold, offshore wind can scale rapidly in the 2030s.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much offshore wind capacity will the US have by 2030?

Capacity estimates vary, but the U.S. is expected to reach multi-gigawatt operational levels by 2030 if current projects proceed as planned.

Which US regions will lead offshore wind development?

The East Coast will dominate through 2030, while the West Coast will lead floating offshore wind deployment.

Is floating offshore wind included in the US roadmap?

Yes. Floating offshore wind is essential for deep-water regions, particularly along the Pacific Coast.

What are the biggest risks to the roadmap?

Grid delays, supply chain constraints, and policy uncertainty remain the primary risks.

Jerin Ismot

Ismot Jerin is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of WindNewsToday, an independent publication covering offshore wind, renewable energy policy, and clean power markets with an analytical focus on the United States and global energy transition.

windnewstoday.com/

The US has warned the UK over Chinese Wind Energy Investment in its offshore wind industry, amid fears over national security. At the heart of the argument is Mingyang Smart Energy, one of China’s largest wind turbine manufacturers, which is preparing to build a plant in Scotland that will supply large floating wind farm projects in the North Sea and Celtic Sea. The move offers the prospect of local job creation and supply chain development, but Washington and some British officials fear it could leave sensitive infrastructure exposed to potential surveillance risks — part of an emerging debate over how to balance green energy goals with security concerns.

But the plan has caused alarm in Washington, which has put pressure on London behind closed doors over the national security implications of allowing a Chinese state-owned energy company to get so near the UK’s critical infrastructure.

US Worries: Security vs Sovereignty over Chinese Wind Energy Investment?

The White House is concerned about spy and cyber threats posed by, for example, Chinese-made wind turbines if they were to be installed near sensitive maritime zones or military installations, according to a senior US official quoted by the Financial Times. This echoes long-held American concerns that some Chinese companies — even those that are not state-owned — might act at the behest of Beijing.

The US has previously sounded similar warning bells to Germany, to which Mingyang has been contracted as a preferred supplier on a North Sea wind farm. Washington’s message to its allies is unmistakable: energy independence must not be achieved at the cost of technological sovereignty or security.

Mingyang’s Plans in the UK: A Green Vision or a Risky Bet?

Mingyang is now in discussions with UK developers, such as:

• Flotation Energy and Vårgrønn on the Green Volt floating wind project

• Cerulean Winds for another North Sea development

• Hexicon, a Swedish firm with projects planned in the Celtic Sea

Supporters say a Mingyang wind turbines Scotland would provide hundreds of green jobs, cut supply chain costs and enable the UK to speed up the launch of its offshore wind power. The UK requires fast industrial scaling if it is to achieve its aims of constructing 50GW of offshore wind by 2030.

Reconciling National Security with Net-Zero Ambitions

The UK government has the power to scrutinize and potentially block foreign investments in the strategically important sectors under the National Security and Investment Act. The case is still under review, with opinions varied, according to UK officials.

This is complicated by the fact that the UK offshore wind energy needs to attract foreign investment in order to live up to its ambitious net-zero targets. Blocking Mingyang could risk a row with Beijing at the time British ministers have been trying to come to terms on how to work with China in tackling climate change under Energy Secretary Ed Miliband.

In the meantime other unrelated tensions have been exacerbated by tensions— like that of Jingye Group’s ownership of British Steel in Stunthorpe, which the British government recently took emergency action to protect.

Voices From the Government and the Industry

A spokeswoman for the UK government did not comment directly on the Mingyang case, but said that “investment in the energy sector is scrutinized for national security at the highest levels.”

A spokesman for the Green Volt project welcomed investment from overseas that helped “to grow the UK wind energy supply chain and create jobs.”

Andrew Bowie, the Conservative shadow secretary of state for Scotland, told parliament that Chinese Wind Energy Investment could be deployed to track UK waters and submarine movements and that the government should favor British and European suppliers in any case.

Others in renewable energy, however, question the US’s motivation, just as Washington isn’t really investing serious

Jerin Ismot

Ismot Jerin is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of WindNewsToday, an independent publication covering offshore wind, renewable energy policy, and clean power markets with an analytical focus on the United States and global energy transition.

windnewstoday.com/

With operations expected to begin in 2030, the Philippines has established itself as a pioneer in floating wind energy in Southeast Asia with the Northern Luzon Floating Offshore Wind Farm.

MANILA – The Philippines takes a pioneering step in its Floating Offshore Wind Journey. The country has received a pre-development environmental consent certificate (ECC) for a 2 gigawatt floating wind project in northern Luzon.

The floating wind project will be operated by Buhawind Energy Philippines. The project is considered one of the most ambitious offshore wind power industry efforts in Southeast Asia.

The floating wind project is set to become a model for Southeast Asia as it strengthens its clean energy ambitions in the coming decade.

Let’s take a look of project detailed, significance as well as the country’s strength, renewable energy goals, and policy with implement.

2 GW Floating Offshore Wind Project Glimpse

Project Name: Northern Luzon Floating Offshore Wind Project

Location: Off the coast of Ilocos Norte, Northern Luzon, Philippines

Capacity: 2GW – one of the largest offshore wind project in Southeast Asia

Developer: BuhaWind Energy Northern Luzon (BENL) — a partnership between

PetroGreen Energy Corporation (PGEC) – Philippines and Copenhagen Energy – Denmark

Environmental Compliance: Issued a Pre-Development ECC by the Philippine DENR

Survey Scope: ECC approval allows BENL to perform:

Geophysical surveys:

• Geotechnical assessments
• Assessments of marine biodiversity
• Environmental impact studies
• Social and community surveys

National Certification: Designated as of April 29, 2025, by the Department of Energy (DOE) as a Project of National Significance on Energy

Operational Timeline: Scheduled to be complete by 2030

Energy Impact: Seeks to provide power to millions of homes, lower country’s reliance on fossil fuels, and help achieve the Philippines’ target of 50% renewable energy by 2040

Other Projects on BuhaWind: 1GW East Panay Project (out of Iloilo & Guimaras Island) 1 GW Northern Mindoro Project (off Occidental Mindoro & Batangas)

BuhaWind Energy Philippines Leads Offshore Wind Revolution

BuhaWind Energy Northern Luzon Corporation (BENLC) is a strategic joint venture between PetroGreen Energy Corporation (PGEC) and Copenhagen Energy of Denmark, through which the country is working to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels while harnessing the vast potential of offshore wind.

PGEC has an extensive track record in developing and operating renewable generation facilities (onshore wind, solar, geothermal) throughout the country, and the nutshell of another partner,

Copenhagen, Denmark, a pioneer in renewable energy, especially offshore, has invested in many countries, including the Philippines, Bangladesh, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, Colombia. In the Philippines alone, CIP has a 1 GW project, where they are working to accelerate development ahead of the upcoming power auction. Through the companies’ deep expertise and partnerships in infrastructure development, the country is working to harness the vast potential of offshore wind to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.

And based on this expertise, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has granted BuhaWind Energy a pre-development ECC. Companies will be able to conduct the preliminary research required for feasibility assessments based on four categories: geophysical, geotechnical, marine, environmental and social surveys.

“The ECC approval will allow the team to conduct a systematic, comprehensive, and scientific study of the project site,” said Errell Ventura, assistant vice president of the PGEC’s Environmental and Community Relations Division. “This ensures that the project not only meets international industry standards but also provides a factual basis for addressing any environmental or community-related concerns.”

These studies are critical to ensuring that the design of the So that, the project is consistent with environmental sustainability principles, seamlessly integrated into the local ecosystem and socio-economic landscape.

The Northern Luzon Wind Farm Significance

• DOE Recognition:

The Northern Luzon Floating wind Project was declared by the Department of Energy (DOE) as an Energy Project of National Significance on 29 April 2025.

• Strategic Impact:

This certification highlights the importance of the project in providing long-term energy security, economic development, technological innovation and positive environmental impact to the country.

• Supporting Renewables Energy Targets:

It supports the objective of the Philippine government to raise the share of renewable energy in its energy mix to at least 50% by 2040.

• High-Capacity Clean Power:

The project, with a total capacity of 2 GW, will provide for millions of Filipino homes and help the country achieve electrification rate by providing clean energy.

• Carbon Emission Reduction:

The floating wind farm is set to help reduce carbon emissions and move the country off fossil fuels.

• Renewable Energy Jobs Creation:

58,000, estimated job creation during the construction period.

Floating Wind Farms: A Vision for Energy Security in the Philippines

The approval of a 2GW floating wind project in northern Luzon strengthens the Philippines’ position in renewable energy in Southeast Asia. Floating wind farms are technically complex and capital-intensive.

With international partners like Copenhagen Energy, these projects are not only building local capacity but also attracting foreign investment, accelerating technology transfer, and establishing this country as a hub for offshore wind innovation.

While neighboring Southeast Asian countries are rapidly expanding their wind power industries, the country with the fifth-longest coastline in the world is unfortunately still heavily dependent on fossil fuels in its energy mix. Coal is the mainstay of electricity generation, while renewable sources such as geothermal and hydroelectricity are also notable.

Therefore, it is great to see that the country has set ambitious targets for renewable energy, with the government providing incentives for projects in this regard. They are now ready to harness the vast offshore resources to meet growing energy needs, reduce dependence on imported energy, and take strong steps towards their climate goals under the Paris Agreement.

The Philippines plans to achieve 35% of its electricity mix from renewables by 2030 and 50% by 2040, including a target of installing 19-50 GW of offshore wind power by 2050. The Philippine government’s National Energy Strategy focuses on strong growth in renewable power generation, with the goal of providing electricity to over 1 million unconnected households.

In this series, Buhawind is developing three floating offshore wind farms – Northern Luzon, Northern Mindoro and East Panay, which will generate a total of 4 gigawatts (GW) of electricity once operational – Northern Luzon (2 GW), Northern Mindoro (1 GW) and East Panay (1 GW) with water depths of 80-800 meters, which create very good conditions for the implementation of floating foundation technology.

It is also a positive sign that, with international partners like Copenhagen Energy, these projects are not only building local capacity, but also attracting foreign investment, accelerating technology transfer, and establishing the Philippines as a hub for offshore wind innovation.

Last Words

The project is expected to create thousands of local jobs including engineering, construction, marine operations and environmental management.

The issuance of the pre-development ECC to BuhaWind Energy Philippines for its 2 GW Floating Wind Project in Northern Luzon is a game changer in the country’s energy sector. In a race for the future, while the rest of the world is looking to clean energy, the Philippines has put itself on the starting blocks to lead the pack on the race to the development of floating offshore wind.

Already with three large projects in the country and supportive regulations in place, the Philippines is proving that floating wind is not a in-the-future-technology, but rather a real-world solution that can power the country’s energy future.

Watch and join on as BuhaWind Energy blazes a trail towards a Filipino energy future that is renewable, resilient and sustainable for the next generation.

Jerin Ismot

Ismot Jerin is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of WindNewsToday, an independent publication covering offshore wind, renewable energy policy, and clean power markets with an analytical focus on the United States and global energy transition.

windnewstoday.com/