This study was conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and funded by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). It provides a comprehensive feasibility assessment of multiple offshore renewable energy technologies in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) to inform BOEM’s strategic plans related to possible Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) alternative energy leasing activities in the GOM. In coordination with Gulf Coast states, for future energy planning, this study also includes some information on offshore renewable energy potential in state waters.
The goal of this study is to survey potential offshore renewable energy sources in the GOM and quantify their feasibility relating to resource adequacy, technology maturity, and the potential for competitive cost. The study provides a review of available technologies and concepts for generating offshore renewable energy, including a high-level assessment of the current state of each technology and its potential for future advances. It provides a breakdown of resource capacity for each renewable energy technology as well as a recommendation that offshore wind be pursued for future study as it was found to be the most promising ocean renewable technology.
The renewable technologies that were considered include:
- Offshore wind
- Wave energy
- Tidal energy
- Ocean current energy
- Offshore solar energy
- Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC)
- Cold water source cooling
- Hydrogen (as a storage medium to use existing pipeline infrastructure).