Offshore wind is an emerging source of clean energy offering the opportunity to capitalize on stronger winds at sea than on land. Its capacity factor, or its percentage of maximum possible energy output over time, exceeds onshore wind by more than 6 percent - meaning turbines at sea are larger and spin more reliably. Offshore wind has taken a strong hold in Europe, particularly in the Nordic region and the United Kingdom, where more than 50,000 megawatts are online — enough to power over 1.4 million homes.

In the U.S., offshore wind has faced major hurdles—from political resistance and an underdeveloped supply chain to the absence of aircraft-carrier-sized installation vessels needed for construction. This case follows the long, complex journey of Vineyard Wind, the first commercial-scale offshore wind project in the country, located about 30 miles off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard. The project endured fierce local backlash in Nantucket and Cape Cod, restructured its steel supply after disruptions from the war in Ukraine, and was even struck by lightning in the summer of 2024. With nearly 20 more offshore wind projects planned along the East Coast, Vineyard Wind's experience stands as both a milestone and a warning for what's ahead in this high-stakes industry.

Our HBS case detailed how the project—led by Swedish CEO Klaus Moeller—overcame a decade of negotiation, litigation, and community opposition to finally get “steel in the water” in the early 2020s. Moeller was determined to win over every stakeholder, from labor unions to local fishermen, each with their own concerns about disrupting the Atlantic off Massachusetts. The case captures not only the complexity of developing a new energy source—complete with transmission challenges and regulatory hurdles—but also the broader challenge of launching an entirely new industry from the ground up. Vineyard Wind shows what it takes to lead in uncharted territory, where success hinges as much on coalition-building as on engineering.