US Export Plan - Sector Report- Renewables

This is one of 8 sector reports that outlines the background research and analysis prepared in support of the US Export Plan and looks to identify the key opportunities in the USA for Scottish companies in this sector.


Table: Top Priority States for Scotland in the Sector

The table below provides a summary of the top five priority states identified in the Matrix model, which have been cross-referenced with research, analysis and stakeholder engagement.

State: California

Strengths:

Largest floating wind potential; hydrogen incentives; Humboldt port; Two MoU’s (Scotland and UK) with strong energy focus; significant port investment; Highest number of VC deals (285)

Key clusters / infrastructure/ Networks:

Humboldt Bay, H2 network, Geysers (worlds largest geothermal field), CAISO grid

Net zero targets (RPS or CES):

60% renewable by 2030, 100% clean electricity by 2045

Notable subsector opportunities:

Floating wind, hydrogen, geothermal, Grid modernisation

Exportable Scottish capabilities:

Subsea engineering, turbine refurbishment, cable routing, electrolysis design, geoscience, drilling, well design and testing, grid expertise/optimisation tools

Key risks/barriers:

Permitting, domestic content;Policy uncertainty; Project delays;63 Hydrogen laws and incentives

State: Texas

Strengths:

Hydrogen production clusters, Industrial clusters;Pipeline network, CCS (Class VI primacy); UK-US MoU;2nd highest no. of energy VC deals (102)

Key clusters / infrastructure/ Networks:

Gulf Coast hydrogen/CCUS, Houston CCS hub, ERCOT grid

Net zero targets (RPS or CES):

10,000 MW target for renewable energy by 2025 (met and surpassed)

Notable subsector opportunities:

Hydrogen, CCS, Grid modernisation

Exportable Scottish capabilities:

System integration, engineering & design, Operations and maintenance, electrolysis design/systems, grid expertise/optimisation tools

Key risks/barriers:

Price volatility, Foreign entity restrictions; BABA compliance

State: New York

Strengths:

Major offshore wind pipeline; strong developer presence; Sunrise Wind project;Empire Wind project;High number of energy VC deals (82)

Key clusters / infrastructure/ Networks:

BOEM lease areas, port upgrades, South Brooklyn Marine Terminal

Net zero targets (RPS or CES):

70% renewable by 2030, 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040

Notable subsector opportunities:

Offshore wind, Grid modernisation

Exportable Scottish capabilities:

Turbine refurbishment, engineering services & consultancy, technical training; Grid expertise/optimisation

Key risks/barriers:

High domestic competition; Policy uncertainty; Project delays

State: Nevada

Strengths:

Rapid Geothermal investment; DOE FORGE site, AI/Data centre demand; Fervo energy pioneering EGS

Key clusters / infrastructure/ Networks:

Western geothermal fields; EGS innovation hubs,

Net zero targets (RPS or CES):

50% renewable energy by 2030; 100% carbon-free energy by 2050

Notable subsector opportunities:

Geothermal

Exportable Scottish capabilities:

Geoscience, drilling, well design and testing, hydraulic engineering

Key risks/barriers:

High domestic competition (geothermal)Project viability costSteel tariffs

State: Massachusetts

Strengths:

Established offshore wind market; Ambitious climate targets, High number of VC energy deals (96)

Key clusters / infrastructure/ Networks:

Salem Offshore Wind Terminal, Northeast Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub

Net zero targets (RPS or CES):

50% reduction by 2030, 75% by 2040 under CECP; net-zero by 2050 with legally binding sub-limits

Notable subsector opportunities:

Floating wind, clean hydrogen

Exportable Scottish capabilities:

Subsea engineering, cable routing, Monitoring/verification tech, engineering services

Key risks/barriers:

Offshore wind federal review delays; Local permitting resistance;Dependency on federal grants

Contact

Email: William.Gray@gov.scot

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