NOAA helps ensure safe operations of offshore wind turbines through our forecasts, observations and navigation resources. Additionally, NOAA is involved in a variety of research efforts that help inform offshore wind energy siting, construction and operations.
NOAA’s efforts to support safe operations of offshore wind operations include:
- Providing data to BOEM on fishing operations and coastal communities' reliance on fishing activity, and to the U.S. Coast Guard on marine weather and ocean conditions for search and rescue planning.
- Developing climate data and modeling to optimize offshore wind site selection and predicting potential impacts to scientific observations.
- Establishing a passive acoustic monitoring framework, in collaboration with BOEM, to effectively monitor and reduce the impact of wind energy projects on marine animals.
- Working closely with DOE, academia and the private sector to improve weather forecast models to enable more accurate predictions of wind turbine energy generation, leading to more efficient integration into the electric grid.
- Lowering the risk from hurricanes to offshore wind installations through research to determine wind loads on turbines and blades, and helping to set industry standards.
- Working with offshore wind energy developers to share ocean mapping data and ensure safety and efficiency of navigation in and around lease areas by maintaining updated charts that highlight potential hazards to navigation.