1. Hydrogen Boost

Speaking of offshore wind and clean hydrogen happening only along the Gulf coast. Similar discussions are taking place on the Atlantic Coast and in Europe, although no water-to-hydrogen wind projects have yet to be completed.

Leon said Europe’s offshore wind production could soon exceed electricity demand. Europe’s offshore wind capacity is around 14,600 megawatts, and is set to increase 25-fold by 2030.

The Louisiana grid, currently has only 4% renewable energy and no onshore or offshore wind farms. The state’s State Climate Force climate action plan calls for 5,000 megawatts of offshore wind on the grid by 2035.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory says the Gulf has the potential to generate nearly 510,000 megawatts of offshore wind energy annually, more than double the current energy needs of five states (Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana). Florida) makes up the Gulf Coast region.

Because of the way the electricity market is structured in the state, offshore wind to generate electricity will be a challenge, said David Dismukes, executive director and professor at the Center for Energy Research, Louisiana State University. difficult sales for investors. He said it’s not cost competition

Entergy, Louisiana’s largest utility, has indicated an interest in offshore wind. In September, a memorandum of understanding was signed with offshore wind to explore this possibility. The company plans to phase out coal by the end of 2030 and build at least 11,000 megawatts of renewable energy to replace coal.

2. An Industrial Revolution

Despite the obstacles, objections and costs, the development of offshore hydrogen has considerable support.

Earlier this year, the larger New Orleans Development Foundation received about $50m (£41m) in federal funds for research and development of a green hydrogen hub. That plan relies on the development of offshore wind to generate green hydrogen. Governor John Bel Edwards is in favor of creating an offshore wind-powered hydrogen energy industry, and the state is supporting the Foundation’s hydrogenation efforts, known as H2TheFuture, with an additional $25 million (21) million pounds).

Demand for green hydrogen is expected to grow 500% by 2050, and South Louisiana is incomparably the most efficient place to supply this demand, according to H2TheFuture. The development of an offshore wind-based hydrogen economy could lead to 34,500 new jobs by 2030, according to the initiative.

If the focus is really on developing offshore wind to serve Green Hydrogen, that’s likely there. It doesn’t matter how clean it is if the way you use it is not clean.