The Thanet Offshore Wind Farm is currently the largest offshore farm operating in the world (courtesy of Vattenfall). The Thanet project was completed in September 2010 and will boost offshore capacity by 30 percent (courtesy of Vattenfall). 24 powertransmissionengineering october 2010 www.powertransmission.com Coastal Question Marks DOES NORTH AMERICA’S RENEWABLE ENERGY SOLUTION LIE OFFSHORE? Matthew Jaster, Associate Editor ust off England’s southeast America. The catastrophic effects of the able energy initiatives, more needs to coast, more than 100 Vestas Gulf oil spill and the continual reliance be done. A recently released report, J V90 wind turbines are gen- on fossil fuels here in the United States “Untapped Wealth: The Potential of erating electricity equivalent suggest other energy options still need Offshore Energy to Deliver Clean, to the annual consumption of 200,000 to be explored. Affordable Energy and Jobs,” by British households. The Thanet Off- The Benefits Offshore Oceana, an international conservation shore Wind Farm, completed in According to the American Wind group, sees much more potential for this September 2010 by Vattenfall, the Energy Association (AWEA), offshore area of wind energy. fifth-largest generator of electricity wind turbines generate more power Jacqueline Savitz, Oceana senior in Europe, will provide a significant than their onshore counterparts thanks campaign director, recently said in increase of green energy to the U.K., to higher wind speeds and steadier Washington D.C. that “Harnessing boosting offshore wind capacity by 30 streams. Larger turbines are more fea- offshore wind power in Atlantic waters percent. It’s currently the largest off- sible offshore, capturing more wind is a much more cost-effective way to shore wind farm operating in the world. while being able to generate energy generate energy than oil and gas drill- British Secretary of State for Energy near more densely populated areas. The ing. If we can get more energy for less and Climate Change Chris Huhne par- U.S. Department of Energy found that money, create more jobs and protect ticipated in the September opening cer- 54 GW of the 300 GW envisioned by our environment from spills, why not emony for the Thanet project. “We are 2030 could be found offshore. These choose offshore wind over oil and gas?” in a unique position to become a world developments could spur manufactur- Oceana says that the offshore leader in this industry. We are an island ing, assembly and transport activities in investments it has recently proposed nation and I firmly believe we should coastal cities and provide various green to Washington could produce 30 per- be harnessing our wind, wave and tidal jobs to the manufacturing sector. cent more electricity than economi- resources to the maximum. I know that Since 2009, ten countries have had cally recoverable offshore oil and gas. there is still more to do to bring forward wind projects installed offshore includ- The group believes offshore wind the large sums of investment we want ing Belgium, China, Denmark, Finland, in Massachusetts, North Carolina, to see in low carbon energy in the U.K., Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Delaware, New Jersey, Virginia and and we as a government are committed Norway, Sweden and the United South Carolina could completely reduce to playing our part,” he said in a press Kingdom. A crucial element in sustain- the need for fossil fuels in some states release. ing renewable energy in North America while replacing some of the demand The time, money and resources will be the continuous push for projects in others. The report recommends the being spent on offshore wind projects that include smaller renewable energy United States eliminate federal subsi- in Europe and Asia—40 projects oper- segments such as offshore and com- dies for fossil fuels and redirects such ating in 10 countries—have spurred munity wind. efforts into renewable energy develop- more dialogue on the role offshore While the current administration ment and energy efficiency programs wind energy could soon play in North has supported many of these renew- continued powertransmissionengineering october 2010 www.powertransmission.com www.powertransmission.com october 2010 powertransmissionengineering 25 Ten countries, including England have installed offshore wind farms since 2009 (courtesy of Vattenfall). immediately. It goes on to argue that through 2020 by the Chinese govern- The New York Times goes on to say that offshore drilling for oil and gas should ment, stating that offshore wind power much of China’s clean energy success be stopped and that the time has come is expected to reach 30 gigawatts and lies in aggressive government policies to make the tax credit for wind energy coastal provinces were required to start that help this crucial export industry in permanent. drafting offshore business models. In ways most other governments do not. Offshore Wind: the next three to four years, 514 MW These measures risk breaking interna- Prospects and Politics could be installed along the China tional rules to which China and almost Companies already involved in wind coastline. According to the report, 17 all other nations subscribe, according to energy or those considering the market MW have been installed already. some trade experts. might want to keep a close eye on off- “China is open for business and In Washington, renewable ener- shore wind in the coming years. Most it’s now the most attractive market for gy is a highly-contested and polit- of the wind energy parts for offshore clean energy businesses—which means ically-charged chess match between farms are currently being made overseas our jobs could go overseas,” Denise Republicans and Democrats. Instead of in Germany and China. Getting the Bode, CEO of AWEA, recently said. addressing the energy issues, specifically necessary parts in a timely fashion could “Over the last few years, we’ve seen new the oil spill and North America’s energy prove difficult unless U.S. manufactur- factories and wind farms grow here at future, political candidates continue to ers become more involved in this wind home. And we know that clean energy argue back and forth for votes. segment. Though several offshore farms technology can continue to be one of In response to rhetoric flying around are in the planning stages, only Cape the bright spots in the U.S. economy.” Washington that a renewable energy Wind in Nantucket Sound has received The New York Times recently report- standard would actually increase elec- final approval and is scheduled to com- ed that the booming Chinese clean tricity prices, Bode of the AWEA said, plete construction in 2012 (Ed.’s note: energy sector, now more than a million “As a top official in charge of keeping See sidebar on page 27 for more informa- jobs strong, could grab hold of these electricity rates low in Oklahoma, the tion on U.S. offshore projects). technologies and never let go. As the wind projects I approved saved con- The real question is what’s tak- world’s population grows by nearly a sumers more money while protecting ing so long? The “Development Plan third, to nine billion people by the mid- consumers from the risk of volatile fuel on Emerging Energies” report out of dle of the century, North America will prices of conventional generation.” China was released in July 2010. The need to remain focused on clean energy The AWEA, in fact, published report outlines wind production goals as coal and oil reserves all but disappear. some facts on its website to rebut some 26 powertransmissionengineering october 2010 www.powertransmission.com of the recent talk on Capitol Hill. The organization says more renewable ener- gy through a national RES (renewable Better Late Than Never energy system) will lower fuel prices, stabilize electricity rates and shield rate- With 40 offshore projects in erate approximately 107,222 megawatt payers/consumers from fuel price spikes operation in Europe and Asia, North hours annually, supplying the major- and regulatory risks. America is a little late to the party. But ity of Block Island’s electricity needs. Independent studies from the U.S. that doesn’t mean that there aren’t sev- Excess power will be exported to the Energy Information Administration eral farms in various stages of planning. mainland. Deepwater plans to com- (EIA) found that an RES could save Here’s a brief rundown of some current mence site preparation in late 2010 and consumers anywhere from $400 million and upcoming offshore wind projects in to commence commercial operations to $2 billion. The EIA has also found the United States: in 2012. that a national RES would lower natu- Cape Wind, Nantucket Sound. The Mid-Atlantic Wind Park. NRG ral gas and coal prices and often lower United States’ first offshore wind proj- Bluewater Wind is currently developing electricity prices. Policies and price sig- ect, Cape Wind, received final approval projects in Delaware, Maryland, New nals, according to AWEA, however, do in April 2010 and is scheduled to Jersey, and New York. The company not fully recognize the value of elec- complete construction in 2012. Built has responded to numerous requests for tricity generated with zero-emissions. in Nantucket Sound, Cape Wind will proposals and requests for information Without a long term renewable energy feature 130 wind turbines producing in these states as well as Rhode Island policy the demands for clean energy up to 420 MW of clean, renewable and North Carolina. It is also exploring will probably not be met. energy. Cape Wind is currently the projects in the Great Lakes and Canada. In late September, an RES bill was only offshore project that is past the The NRG Bluewater Wind projects are introduced by Senators Bingaman, planning stage.