Offshore wind energy is poised to make a significant contribution to the overall US energy portfolio. The wind energy sector is growing by an average of 27% per year and the wind energy resource offshore exceeds the entire US electricity demand. Offshore wind technology has been proven in Europe and the US should see its first installation within 5 years. The objective of this presentation is to provide an introduction to this rapidly growing field. We will summarize the past, present, and future of offshore wind energy and give an overview of the technology, advantages, disadvantages, and the substantial market potential. We will also discuss the major technical hurdles related to offshore wind farm design: turbine layout, support structures, electrical interconnection, and maintenance strategies. We will explain the impact of these factors, lessons learned by the industry, and the solutions that are moving offshore wind towards a very promising future.