Why are there more wind turbines in coastal areas?

The first offshore wind project was installed off the coast of Denmark in 1991. Since that time, commercial-scale offshore wind facilities have been operating in shallow waters around the world, mostly in Europe. Wind power projects will continue to take shape offshore the United States. read more

Abundant offshore wind resources have the potential to supply immense quantities of renewable energy to major U.S. coastal cities, such as New York City, Boston, and Los Angeles. Offshore winds tend to blow harder and more uniformly than on land. read more

Offshore wind speeds tend to be steadier than on land. 1 A steadier supply of wind means a more reliable source of energy. Many coastal areas have very high energy needs. Half of the United States’ population lives in coastal areas, 1 with concentrations in major coastal cities. read more

While the study of North Atlantic wind power is theoretical, and it's important to consider the seasonal variation—there is much more energy potential in the winter—the overall results show deep ocean energy development is very promising, Caldeira said. read more