Wind power is a sustainable and versatile source of renewable
energy. Wind turbines generate energy in a cost-effective manner safe for the
environment. This renewable energy source is cheaper than fossil fuels and more
ecologically friendly. Until now, most wind turbines have been land-based. But
the industry is changing. Technological development has allowed turbines to
move offshore. Wind farms then connect to the onshore power grid using buried
undersea cables. Once onshore, the produced energy moves through load centers
located at the coastline. From there, the energy distributes into the
electrical grid for use by homes and businesses. But there’s more to know about
offshore wind than how it gets to the power grid. Here’s what you need to know.
Offshore Wind Offers Great Energy Resources
The US Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy
estimates 7,200 terawatt-hours of offshore wind turbine capacity available
within 200 nautical miles of the United States shorelines. That’s almost twice
our national annual consumption. It’s doubtful America will ever build wind
farms to take advantage of all capacity. But the research shows wind power
offers a workable renewable energy source for every US state in the coming
decades.
Offshore Wind Turbines are Already In Use
The first American commercial offshore wind project came
online in 2016, off Rhode Island’s shoreline. The Block Island Wind Farm is a 30-megawatt project built from five wind turbines. These connect to the Block
Island power grid via undersea cabling, providing all the island’s energy
needs. The remaining power is then integrated into Rhode Island’s mainland
grid. While United States development has lagged behind Europe, multiple
offshore wind farm projects are completed or are now underway off the coasts of
Virginia, New Jersey, North Carolina, and four other states.
The US Offshore Wind Industry is Taking Off
Our government, universities, and private wind companies
collaborate on solving problems facing American offshore wind development--like
hurricanes. These partnerships develop wind technology faster than it would
otherwise. There are expectations the offshore wind industry could provide
America with as much as 86 GW of power by 2050. Today, offshore wind provides
less than half a gigawatt.
The Best Offshore Winds are In Deep Water
Close to 60 percent of the nation’s offshore wind resources
are located in areas where conventional foundations like steel piles won’t
work. Because of this, research has focused on developing new foundation types
for these locations. While the same technology used for offshore oil rig
platforms played into the design of early offshore turbines, now turbines use a
variety of bases designed to fit the needs of deep water and high wind.
Foundations use concrete, steel, or other materials, and can connect to the
seabed at one point, three points, or not at all.
Offshore Wind Turbines Can Float
Europe has used floating wind turbines for over a decade. Now
they’re coming to America. In November 2020, Maine announced plans for the
nation’s first offshore floating wind farm, located more than 20 miles
offshore. The wind farm is a pilot program designed to spur more floating
offshore wind interest and research. Floating wind turbines have significant
advantages over traditional offshore turbines. They work in deeper water where
winds are stronger. Located over the horizon, they cut coastal visual pollution
and noise concerns. Finally, in-port assembly is possible, an option not
available with traditional offshore turbines. The finished units are towed into
place, simplifying construction processes and decreasing overall costs.
Offshore Turbines are Big. Really Big.
Offshore turbines aren’t limited by the same logistical
challenges land-based turbines run into as they move along the country’s roads.
Because offshore turbines don’t have to account for bridge or tunnel clearances
during transport, they can scale up to capture more wind. Offshore wind
turbines can have a base twice the height of the Statue of Liberty with
individual blades extending another 300 feet--the length of a football
field--beyond. For example, the wind turbines at Block Island Wind Farm are 600
feet high. But the Block Island turbines are dwarfed by GE’s newest turbine in
development, the Haliade-X. Each Haliade-X turbine will be taller than an
80-story building. GE is preparing several for installation at a new farm off
the coast of Massachusetts. These monster turbines can generate 64% more
electricity than average wind turbines. The Haliade-X generates so much energy
with each turn it can power an average American household for a full week with
only ten rotations.
Offshore Wind Development Drives Job Development
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates wind energy could
support as many as 600,000 jobs by the end of 2050. That’s seven times the
number of people currently employed by the industry. Many of these jobs will be
above national averages, including non-degreed
positions with median wages around $45,000, like crane and tower operators.
But offshore wind turbines will spur jobs in other industries, too. Turbines
built on-shore increase port development. Also, US law prohibits the use of
foreign-owned vessels to move turbines into place. This means as more offshore
wind farms develop, the shipping industry will benefit as more barges and cargo
ships are built to move components into place.
Key Takeaway
Although the potential for offshore wind is tremendous, the development will take time. Because wind farms must first perform site studies,
conduct research on environmental impacts, and work through a complex
permitting process, most projects take more than a decade to complete. As we
consider the urgent need for cleaner power options, long wait times may be a
point of frustration for many. In light of that frustration, it may be best to
consider the Chinese proverb that says “The best time to plant a tree was
twenty years ago. The second best time is now.”
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