China constructs an unprecedented floating wind turbine, a development that may dramatically reshape the landscape of renewable energy.
In a significant leap forward for renewable energy, floating wind turbines are set to revolutionise the industry by unlocking vast offshore wind resources previously inaccessible to fixed-bottom turbines.
These innovative turbines, such as the GE Vernova Haliade-X turbines used in the Dogger Bank Wind Farm in the UK, rated at an impressive 13 MW, can be installed in depths well beyond 60 meters, sometimes over 1,000 meters. This is particularly beneficial for countries with deep coastal waters like Japan, which has set an ambitious target to achieve 30-45 GW of wind energy production by 2040, with floating wind turbines expected to play a major role.
The key impacts of floating wind turbines include:
- Access to Vast Offshore Areas: Roughly 80% of the world’s offshore wind potential lies in water too deep for fixed turbines. Floating turbines unlock this large resource base, especially in countries with deep coastal waters.
- Stronger and More Consistent Winds: Deeper waters typically have steadier, faster winds than nearshore shallow waters, improving energy yield per turbine and potentially reducing the number of turbines needed.
- Reduced Environmental and Spatial Constraints: Floating turbines permit site placement farther offshore, reducing visual impacts and conflicts with other coastal uses while tapping less-crowded wind zones.
- Technological Advances for Extreme Conditions: Innovations in mooring, anchoring, and deep-water cable transmission enable turbine operation in challenging marine environments with strong winds, high waves, and complex seabed features, extending the feasibility and reliability of large floating farms.
- Potential Oceanographic Benefits: Floating farms in deeper waters may induce ocean mixing and nutrient upwelling, possibly enhancing marine productivity locally, which could have ecosystem implications distinct from fixed-bottom wind farms in shallower, coastal zones.
Meanwhile, advancements in fixed-bottom turbines are also being made. For instance, Dongfang Electric Corporation recently tested a 26 MW fixed bottom turbine off the coast of Yangjiang, China. The turbine, developed by Chinese energy giant China Huaneng Group and power generator Dongfang Electric Corporation, can generate 17 megawatts of clean electricity per year and withstand waves in excess of 78 feet high and typhoon-speed winds.
Despite the promising developments in floating and fixed-bottom turbines, it's important to note that offshore wind farms are currently more expensive to build and produce more expensive energy per unit than onshore wind farms. However, as technology advances and economies of scale are realised, these costs are expected to decrease, making offshore wind a more viable and attractive option for renewable energy production.
References:
- BBC News
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory
- University of Exeter
- WindEurope
- ESMAP
The finance sector is increasingly interested in investing in renewable energy, recognizing the potential of floating wind turbines to revolutionize the industry and unlock vast offshore wind resources, benefiting countries with deep coastal waters such as Japan. Technological advancements in both floating and fixed-bottom turbines, like the 26 MW turbine developed by China Huaneng Group and Dongfang Electric Corporation, are important steps towards reducing the costs associated with offshore wind farms, making them a more viable and attractive option for renewable energy production.
