RWE, a prominent global offshore wind company, has achieved a significant milestone by securing Lease Area OCS-G 37334 in the U.S. Department of the Interior’s (DOI) inaugural Gulf of Mexico offshore wind lease auction. The auction, conducted by the DOI’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), featured three lease areas with the potential to collectively support over 3.7 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind capacity.
RWE emerged as the successful bidder for Lease Area OCS-G 37334 with a winning bid of USD 5.6 million. This accomplishment marks RWE’s foray into the Gulf of Mexico region, following its expansion across the U.S. offshore wind market since its entry in 2022.
Sven Utermohlen, CEO of RWE Offshore Wind, expressed the company’s enthusiasm for this achievement, stating, “Entering a new region in the Gulf is an exciting milestone to further deploy over 20 years of expertise across the value chain and deliver a new energy resource into the region.” He emphasized RWE’s commitment to leveraging its experience to unleash the full potential of offshore wind energy in the Gulf.
The awarded lease site, located approximately 44 miles off the coast of Louisiana, boasts water depths ranging from 10 to 25 meters. With a capacity potential of up to 2 GW, this site could power more than 350,000 U.S. homes with clean energy. The project’s anticipated operational timeline is set for the mid-2030s, contingent upon obtaining necessary permits.
Under Governor John Bel Edwards’ Climate Action Plan, Louisiana has set an ambitious target to achieve 5 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2035. RWE has proactively invested in jumpstarting the offshore wind industry in the region through collaborations with local organizations. The company’s Memorandum of Understanding with Entergy, a significant power generation fleet operator, aims to assess the delivery of clean offshore wind energy to customers in Louisiana and Texas.
The next steps for RWE involve close collaboration with the local community, Tribal Nations, fishing industries, and other ocean stakeholders. The company aims to enhance engagement with the domestic supply chain, fostering local job creation and private investments.
RWE has solidified its position as a global leader in offshore wind with a presence across the entire value chain. With 19 operational offshore wind farms across five countries and a goal to expand its offshore wind capacity to 8 GW globally by 2030, RWE is driving the transition to renewable energy. In the U.S., RWE’s efforts extend beyond the Gulf of Mexico, with ongoing developments in the eastern and western coasts, positioning the company as a significant player in the nation’s renewable energy landscape.