US offshore wind auction attracts single winner

The USA’s first-ever offshore wind auction for concessions in the Gulf of Mexico has concluded with one winner, Reuters reported on Tuesday.

German energy player RWE has taken the rights to develop the Lake Charles block in Louisiana for USD 5.6 million.

According to the government, the 415-square-kilometre concession has the potential to generate 1.24 GW.

The other two blocks on offer totalling almost 809 square kilometres offshore Galveston, Texas, received no bids.

The government proposed the wind auction in February 2023.

The USA has set a goal to deploy 30 GW of offshore wind energy by 2030 and decarbonise the power generation sector by 2035.

The three concession areas on the Gulf of Mexico had the potential to account for 10% of the government’s offshore wind goals.

In 2022, the Biden administration held three offshore wind lease auctions off New York, New Jersey and California coasts.

The New York and New Jersey auctions saw a record USD 4.37 billion in bids while the California auction drew USD 757 million in bids.