Full Title: Offshore Wind Energy Workforce Manufacturing and Supply Chain Resource
Author(s): Caitlyn Clark, Brinn McDowell, Bailey Pons, and Jeremy Stefek
Publisher(s): U.S. Department of Energy and NREL
Publication Date: September 9, 2024
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):
The job opportunity for component manufacturing facilities and their suppliers could be a significant portion of the offshore wind energy workforce (see the U.S. Department of Energy’s wind energy career map). Average annual employment levels (full-time equivalent [FTE]/year) from 2024 to 2030 are estimated at 12,300 and 49,000 based on 25% and 100% domestic content scenarios, respectively, to fabricate and assemble components to reach 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind energy by 2030. The extent to which domestic jobs are realized depends on the building of U.S. manufacturing facilities and those facilities leveraging a U.S. supply chain to source subassemblies, parts, and materials.
In recent years, researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory have conducted a research effort, supported by the Wind Energy Technologies Office, to better understand the job needs for major component manufacturing facilities (e.g., Tier 1 facilities).