Offshore Renewable Energy and Floating Offshore Wind Resources
The 100 Percent Clean Energy Act of 2018 (SB 100, De León, Chapter 321, Statutes of 2018) increased California’s Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) goal to 60 percent by 2030 and requires RPS-eligible resources and zero-carbon resources to supply 100 percent of California’s electricity retail sales and electricity procured to serve state agencies by 2045. California has some of the best offshore wind resources in the country and floating offshore wind is emerging as a promising source of renewable energy generation for the state. In addition to providing renewable energy, development of floating offshore wind energy in California will diversify the state’s energy portfolio and provide an opportunity for good paying jobs and statewide economic benefits.
Offshore wind energy technologies have been deployed in Europe and Asia and are under active development on the East Coast of the United States. To date, most offshore wind energy projects utilize fixed bottom foundations which are more suitable for shallow waters. The deep waters of the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf off California’s coast will require offshore wind turbines installed on floating platforms anchored to the seabed. While the global floating offshore wind market is still in early stages of development, the technology is projected to quickly advance, and California is well positioned to be a leader in the floating offshore wind market.
There are many factors and values to balance when planning for the development of floating offshore wind, including environmental, cultural, socioeconomic, regulatory, and economic considerations. California is home to one of the most diverse coastal and ocean ecosystems in the world, with over 1,100 miles of coastline, and the protection of coastal and ocean resources remains an important value. California is prioritizing actions and approaches to balance the advancement of a floating offshore wind industry and preservation of the unique and diverse ecosystems off the coast.
Stay informed of events, reports, and other items by signing up for the Offshore Renewable Energy email subscription. In addition to other outreach efforts, CEC and its partner agencies plan to conduct one or more virtual workshops in early 2024. Notice for future events will appear on the CEC website and emailed to the CEC Renewable Energy subscription list described above.
The following are upcoming engagement opportunities and contact information to request additional engagement:
- California Energy Commission (CEC): engages in a range of initiatives to better understand the opportunities and actions for deploying floating offshore wind responsibly off the coast of California, including the creation of the California Offshore Wind Energy Gateway and implementation of Assembly Bill (AB) 525 (Chiu, Chapter 231, Statutes of 2021) requiring the CEC to develop a strategic plan for offshore wind energy developments installed off the California coast in federal waters.
Contact: Email publicadvisor@energy.ca.gov or call (916) 957-7910. - California State Lands Commission (CSLC): manages certain lands owned by the State, including navigable waterways underlying lakes, rivers, and sloughs and tide and submerged lands from the ordinary high water mark out to the state/federal offshore boundary, approximately three nautical miles offshore. CSLC considers applications for leases to use, occupy, and develop State lands and resources, such as applications for offshore wind development in state waters. For more information on CSLC’s involvement in offshore wind, please visit our website. Contact: Email Yessica.Ramirez@slc.ca.gov or call (916) 574-1888
- California Coastal Commission (CCC): implements the California Coastal Act and the Coastal Zone Management Act. The California Coastal Act requires Commission review and authorization of all development within California’s Coastal Zone. The Coastal Zone Management Act provides for Commission review of federal activities or permits outside of the coastal zone, including offshore wind projects, that could have an effect on California’s coastal resources. Contact: Email osw@coastal.ca.gov
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW): has jurisdiction over conservation, protection and management of fish, wildlife, native plants, and habitats necessary for biologically sustainable populations of the species. CDFW is also responsible for marine biodiversity protection in California’s coastal marine waters. Contact: Email AskMarine@wildlife.ca.gov
- California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC): authorizes electric utility rates and procurement and conducts integrated resource planning to ensure development of the generation, energy storage and transmission resources needed to achieve the state’s goal of 100 percent zero-carbon electricity by 2045 in a cost-effective manner. Contact: Email public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov
- Ocean Protection Council (OPC): advises the governor and legislature on ocean and coastal issues and supports assessing the impacts of offshore wind to marine life, fisheries, tribal and cultural resources, and local economies. OPC’s Strategic Plan to Protect California’s Coast and Ocean 2020-2025 includes a goal to support sustainable commercial offshore wind development. Contact: Email coppublic@resources.ca.gov
- Office of Planning and Research (OPR): studies future research and planning needs with a focus on addressing climate risk, resilience, and economic development. Contact: Email sloane.viola@opr.ca.gov or call (916) 835-5952.
In September 2021, the California Legislature passed, and the Governor signed, Assembly Bill (AB) 525 (Chiu, Chapter 231, Statutes of 2021) requiring the CEC, in coordination with the California Coastal Commission, the Ocean Protection Council, the State Lands Commission, the Office of Planning and Research, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, the California Independent System Operator, and the Public Utilities Commission, and other relevant federal, state, and local agencies as needed, to develop a strategic plan for offshore wind energy developments installed off the California coast in federal waters, and submit it to the California Natural Resources Agency and the Legislature.
For more information, please see the AB 525 report.
The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is responsible for overseeing renewable energy development in federal waters of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). Floating offshore wind energy projects are complex and will require close coordination between BOEM, the State of California, and other federal and local agencies and tribal governments. To help facilitate this coordination, the Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force (Task Force) was established in 2016. The Task Force, which includes representatives from federal, state, local, and federally tribal governments, work together to identify opportunities for renewable energy leasing and development off the coast of California. For more information on BOEM’s recent California offshore wind activities, please visit BOEM’s California Activities website.
The CEC’s Electric Program Investment Charge Program, or EPIC, funds research leading to technological advancements and scientific breakthroughs supporting California’s clean energy goals, with a focus on providing ratepayer benefits, including reliability, lower costs, and safety. While floating offshore wind has yet to be launched in California, additional technological innovation and optimization can help propel the market and bring affordable and clean electricity to California’s communities.
The EPIC Interim Investment Plan 2021 and EPIC 4 2021-2025 Investment Plan includes investment priorities for research designed to accelerate the market readiness of floating offshore wind, enable advancements in installation, operations, and maintenance methods, and develop best-available science and monitoring technologies for environmental assessment and impact minimization.
The online database Energize Innovation allows users to search for the latest updates from CEC-funded research projects relating to floating offshore wind energy.
In addition to offshore wind energy, marine hydrokinetic technologies can capture wave energy as another potential source of renewable generation. Much like floating offshore wind, marine hydrokinetics is an emerging technology with limited demonstrations to date. The U.S. Department of Energy is investing in research to support the design, testing, development and demonstration, of marine hydrokinetic technologies.
In October 2023, the California Legislature passed Senate Bill 605 (Padilla, Chapter 405, Statutes of 2023) which requires the CEC, in consultation with appropriate state agencies, to evaluate the feasibility, cost, and benefits of using wave energy and tidal energy as forms of clean energy in California. Additionally, the bill requires the CEC, in coordination and consultation with the California Coastal Commission, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Ocean Protection Council, and the State Lands Commission, to work with other state and local agencies and stakeholders to identify suitable sea space for offshore wave energy and tidal energy projects in state and federal waters. For more information, please visit SB 605 Wave and Tidal Offshore Renewable Energy.