In September 2024, the South Carolina Department of Commerce released the South Carolina Offshore Wind Supply Chain Study. The purpose of the study is to provide South Carolina’s legislators, businesses, and industry organizations with insights on how South Carolina can further support and benefit from the growth of the U.S. offshore wind industry and supply chain. The South Carolina Department of Commerce designated Clemson University and Xodus Group to complete this study at the directive of House Bill 4831, which calls on the state to evaluate the economic and supply chain advantages that South Carolina can leverage to develop a roadmap for attracting local offshore wind investment.
This report serves as an update on previous research on the potential economic benefits of offshore wind development that had been conducted by Clemson University 2012 and 2014 and commissioned by the South Carolina Energy Office. This early work was part of a broader research initiative that supported technical research and industry road-mapping with support from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Key findings from this study include that South Carolina’s diversified collection of manufacturing industries, low business operating costs, and existing port infrastructure create an opportunity for upwards of $400 million of total economic output over the next ten years, if in-state companies secure Tier 2 supply contracts in offshore wind.