Floating wind farms have set off for a greener future

After years of funding research and development in the wind energy sector, wind energy technology has improved enormously with the advent of giant blades, quieter motors and floating turbines. Due to this development, energy companies are now investing in launching new innovative floating wind farms in various locations around the world. This is expected to help operators generate higher levels of offshore wind power and develop projects in a wider range of locations.

Most offshore wind turbines are built on fixed structures, meaning they must be developed in shallow waters where the seabed is accessible. The wind is stronger on the ocean than on land, allowing wind turbines to generate more power and making the sea an attractive location to establish wind power projects. After years of research and development aimed at creating alternative structures that allow wind turbines to be placed in a wider range of locations, researchers have developed the technology needed to establish floating wind farms.

Floating offshore wind projects consist of turbines located on floating structures rather than fixed structures that are anchored to the seabed. The floating nature of the bases means that these turbines can be located in deeper waters where the wind potential is greater. The turbines are erected on a floating offshore wind platform (FOWP) made of concrete, steel or both. These structures are stabilized by moorings and anchors and are designed to distribute masses and weights. The turbine blades are powered by wind, which is converted into electricity, to be transported via underwater cables to offshore substations and then on land. I am several types of FOWP including barge, which is shaped like a ship; semi-submersible, which consists of several vertical cylinders joined by beams and braces; spar, which is cylindrical and rests on a counterweight; and tension leg platforms, which have multiple arms and are held stable by the use of tensioned steel cables.

Scientists are also enthusiastic about floating wind farms from an environmental point of view. FOWPs can be built and assembled on land before being towed offshore to site, meaning project development is less invasive and potentially less harmful to marine life. The turbines are also expected to be more energy efficient due to stronger winds. Another benefit of floating wind farms is that energy companies can get rid of the not-in-my-backyard view of communities that oppose wind turbines because of them. visual impact on the landscapeas most of these projects will not be seen from shore.

Several governments are supporting floating wind projects, hoping to diversify their clean energy mix in the green transition. In the US, the Departments of Energy (DoE), Interior (DoI), Commerce and Transportation (DoT) have launched Floating Offshore Wind Shot™ to establish the US as a leader in the design, development and production of floating offshore wind turbines. Between September 2022 and May 2024, the three agencies invested more than 950 million dollars in the scheme, which supports planning, leasing, research, development, demonstration and implementation actions through mechanisms such as direct federal investment, associated cost share and lease-related auction credits. The initiative aims to lower the cost of offshore floating wind power by more than 70% to $45 per megawatt-hour by 2035 for offshore deepwater sites.

In the UK, offshore wind has been a major contributor to the country’s energy mix for several years, and the government has supported the development of new floating wind projects. About 10 miles off the coast of Aberdeen, Scotland, there are already five floating wind turbines, measuring 190 meters above the sea, generating enough clean energy for about 35,000 homes. With around 80% of the world’s offshore wind resources located in waters deeper than 60 metres, the UK government is keen to approve more floating wind farms.

The conventional offshore wind farm sector is expected to remain much larger than floating wind operations for several years, with an estimated capacity of 60 GW by 2030, compared to 5 GW of floating wind projects. However, the government is COMMITTED to expanding offshore wind power and diversifying the country’s clean energy mix. The industry trade association, Renewable UK, expects floating offshore wind farms to account for over half of the country’s offshore wind production until the 2040s.

In Japan, in June, two consortia were chosen under the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s Green Innovation Fund to develop demonstration floating wind projects. The first consortium is led by Marubeni Offshore Wind Development and other local partners, including SSE Pacifico. This month, “K” Line Wind Service (KWS), a subsidiary of the “K” Line Group, signed a memorandum of understanding with UK-based Acteon to share its skills and services to develop commercial projects floating offshore wind power in Japan. This reflects the government’s ambitions to establish Japan as a regional leader in offshore floating wind.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

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