Background

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`Primary Renewable Energy Sources (Non-Nuclear)`⁠
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Photovoltaic (PV) solar⁠

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Concentrated solar-thermal power (CSP)⁠

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Onshore wind energy⁠

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These resources are reliable when solar radiation is most abundant and wind speeds are less variable. The absence of sunlight and variable wind speeds at night limit these resources. In California, OSW speeds have been shown to peak between 6 and 9 pm, coinciding with peak demand and a decrease in solar and onshore wind generation.

California

mandates⁠

retail electricity sellers to procure 60% renewable energy by 2030 and 100% by 2045.

In 2022, 10.83% of California’s grid came from onshore wind

In 2022, 54.23% of the grid from non-GHG and renewable sources.

A 21 GW build-out of OSW could meet up to Up to 25% of California’s future anticipated renewable electricity needs renewable electricity needs.

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`Federal OSW Goals`⁠
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2030: 30 GW

2050: 110 GW

The water depth of the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf requires California to develop floating offshore wind (FOSW) exclusively instead of traditional, fixed-bottom turbines. The California Energy Commission (CEC) reports semi-submersible (made of concrete, steel, or a hybrid) platforms for FOSW turbines are likely to be adopted in the California industry (see image above).

In December 2022, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) facilitated the first auction of sea space for California FOSW in the Humboldt and Morro Bay Wind Energy Areas (WEA). Five separate entities successfully bid on the two WEAs, which cover 373,268 acres (1503 km2 ). The two existing WEAs have the potential to produce at least 4.5 GW of renewable electricity and power more than 1.5 million homes.