The Clean Energy Industry is Growing In Connecticut
Connecticut has long been a leader in the clean energy industry, with the first Green Bank in the U.S. founded here, but has recently doubled down on its commitments to become energy independent and support the many green energy companies located here. Connecticut has established one of the most ambitious clean energy goals in the nation, with a commitment to achieve zero carbon electricity by 2040, which includes investments in fuel cell, solar, and offshore wind energy. Connecticut was also one of the first states to establish an energy storage target, with a goal of deploying 1,000 MW of energy storage by the end of 2030.
“This new facility will continue to position Mott as a leader in clean energy development, and add to Connecticut’s strength as a home of innovation and manufacturing… Our private sector partnerships are strengthened by the fact that our state and local governments are responsive to our needs and advocate for us when it counts.”
— Boris Levin, Head of Growth, IDEX Health & Science Technologies; Former CEO, Mott Corp.
Connecticut’s status as the largest maritime hub in the Northeast1 and its unparalleled manufacturing ecosystem, built around the state’s aerospace and defense, shipbuilding, and precision manufacturing industries, has left the state in a unique position to fulfill the needs of various green energy industries – from autonomous undersea mapping and monitoring to battery and semiconductor production to telecommunication and high-performance interconnect systems. Connecticut’s shipbuilding and ship repairing industry employs nearly 11,800 personnel, the largest concentration in the Northeast, second largest among all East Coast states, and the third largest in the United States, more than 11 times the national concentration2.
Notable Clean Energy Employers
Fuel Cell Energy
FuelCell Energy is a leading provider of fuel cell solutions for clean energy production, focusing on advancing sustainable technologies for carbon capture, power generation, and energy storage. Headquartered in Danbury, CT, the company specializes in the design, manufacturing, and deployment of molten carbonate fuel cell systems that convert natural gas or biogas into electricity with minimal emissions. Fuel Cell Energy operates the first and second largest fuel cell parks in North America in Bridgeport, CT, also the 2nd largest in the world, and Derby, CT, respectively, serving as models for clean energy production.
Equinor
Equinor is a global energy company committed to transitioning towards renewable and low-carbon energy sources. One of Equinor’s main North American operations centers is located in Stamford, CT. The office is integral to Equinor's offshore wind development efforts, overseeing several major projects along the U.S. East Coast to provide large-scale clean energy through offshore wind farms. The Stamford office also manages Equinor’s trading and commercial activities across the Americas, which include energy trading and optimization services.
HyAxiom
HyAxiom, a subsidiary of Doosan, specializes in the development and production of hydrogen fuel cells and related technologies that support sustainable energy efforts across various industries. Their facilities in East Hartford and South Windsor, CT focus on manufacturing high-performance fuel cells and play a critical role in testing, assembling, and refining hydrogen fuel cell systems, ensuring efficiency and reliability. Additionally, the site supports research and development initiatives aimed at improving fuel cell performance and reducing costs, driving innovation in sustainable energy.
Nel
Nel is a Norway-based global leader in hydrogen production technologies, specializing in electrolysis systems that produce green hydrogen from renewable energy sources. Nel’s Connecticut facility, located in Wallingford, CT, is a key site for the company’s PEM electrolyser production. The facility focuses on the design, manufacturing, and testing of advanced electrolysis systems, which are essential for producing green hydrogen from renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. The Wallingford site also supports research and development efforts aimed at improving the efficiency and scalability of hydrogen production.
Be Among the Best
Key Facts
#3
in the United States for Offshore Wind Power3
#3
in the nation for fuel cell patents4
#1
lowest impact on climate change in the U.S.5
#9
most energy efficient state6
Industry Subsectors
Support for Connecticut’s Clean Energy Industry
Clean Energy
- State Pier: As a result of Connecticut’s strategic investment in the State Pier Terminal in New London – totaling $310 million, which includes $100 million in private sector funding from the offshore wind developer joint venture of Orsted and Eversource – Connecticut is at the forefront of U.S. offshore wind marshaling operations. Once sea-ready, the first U.S.-built wind turbine installation vessel, Dominion’s Charybdis, will deploy first out of State Pier Terminal to support construction of Revolution Wind and Sunrise Wind.
- New Haven Harbor: A $63 million deepening and widening effort undertaking by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that will create deeper and wider channels to increase the navigation efficiency and safety of New Haven Harbor. This project will dredge the main ship channel, maneuvering area, and turning basin to -40 feet mean lower low water and widen the main channel and turning basin to allow larger vessels to efficiently access the Port of New Haven’s terminals.
- Barnum Landing: AVANGRID Renewables is redeveloping the 18.3-acre waterfront industrial property to host hundreds of local workers hired to do critical foundation transition piece steel fabrication and final outfitting. This redevelopment will build valuable Connecticut-based offshore wind capabilities along with a trained workforce prepared for future offshore wind projects.
- Offshore Wind Projects: Connecticut plays an outsized role in the industry, helping our neighbors deliver on their clean energy goals from our ports, including: South Fork Wind (132 MW), currently being assembled and marshaled from State Pier, will provide power to 70,000 homes on Long Island, New York; Revolution Wind (704MW), currently assembled and marshalled from State Pier, will provide power to 350,000 homes in Connecticut and Rhode Island; Sunrise Wind (924 MW) will provide power to nearly 600,000 homes in New York in 2025.
- Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection — state agency that is committed to making cheaper, cleaner and more reliable energy available has a variety of programs and incentives ranging from EV charging to energy storage
- Connecticut Power & Energy Society — Connecticut’s leading association of energy professionals, is dedicated to generating information, sharing ideas and educating Connecticut about energy
- CT Hydrogen-Fuel Cell Coalition — promotes development, manufacturing and deployment of fuel cell and hydrogen technologies, serving as a voice for the industry
- Naval & Maritime Consortium (NMC) — part of the ecosystem of support available for BlueTech companies in New England that provides mentorship, collaboration, and business networking opportunities
- Offshore Wind Strategic Roadmap — provides direction for the sustainable and equitable growth of Connecticut’s offshore wind economy with a focus on infrastructure and real estate, supply chain growth, workforce expansion, and R&D partnerships
- UConn Center for Clean Energy Engineering (C2E2) — Education, research, and innovation in sustainable energy systems
- UConn Offshore Wind Energy and Grid Integration Research at Eversource Energy Center — joint commitment to accelerating research and adoption of blended energy sources, including solar, wind, hydrogen, fuel cell, and hydro, and to further modernize the regional power grid
- Connecticut Initiative on Environmental Research of Offshore Wind (CIEROW) at UConn — an interdisciplinary team of scientists who conduct targeted research in marine environments potentially impacted by offshore wind energy industry while also supporting the industry with enhanced monitoring, data analytics and modeling capabilities
- Connecticut Innovations (CI) — Connecticut’s strategic venture capital arm and the leading source of financing and ongoing support for innovative, growing companies
- CONNSTEP — a business consulting firm focused on identifying opportunities for growth, improving productivity, and ensuring competitiveness
Clean Energy Sector Snapshot
◄ Get an in-depth look at Connecticut’s life sciences industry cluster.
- industry trends and dynamics
- concentrations of talent and workforce pipelines in Connecticut
- Connecticut's regulatory environment
- logistical and infrastructure considerations
- the state’s strengths for companies in the state
- data and resources for companies seeking market entry into Connecticut
Learn more about Connecticut's key industries in our detailed snapshots.
1Lightcast, 2021; 2Lightcast, 2022; 3Business Facilities Magazine 2022; 4U.S. Department of Energy, 2020; 5WalletHub, 2023; 6American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, 2022; 7Lightcast, 2022, AdvanceCT calculations; 8Connecticut Hydrogen Fuel Cell Coalition, 2022
