Offshore wind energy is zero-carbon electricity that is closer to population centers, with stronger and more consistent wind speeds, and where larger projects are possible. The United States has a goal to deploy 30 GW of offshore wind by 2030, but it is still a nascent industry in the United States. Deployment challenges include the cost of energy, siting and permitting, grid connections, transmission adequacy, and supply chain issues. Globally, the United Kingdom is leading in offshore wind installation with Germany in second, but China will likely surpass both the UK and Germany in the coming years. Europe leads the world in operating pipelines, but Asia will quickly catch up.
