The frequency of new offshore wind farm projects has heightened as the global focus on renewable energy and improving our environmental impact continues to gain traction. Outer Banks Ocean Energy Corporation’s (OBOE) strategy for developing offshore wind energy in North Carolina comes at a time when the call for renewable energy goes all the way up to the White House, where President Obama has made a push for renewable energy, including the development and operation of offshore wind farms in the United States. There are a number of proposed domestic offshore wind farms (including those in New Jersey and Delaware), and in a North Carolina climate so hospitable to offshore wind energy, OBOE already has begun work to make offshore wind power available.
The United States has yet to host any constructed and operating offshore wind farms. However, we are able to draw upon and learn from the experiences of other markets – specifically, the European Union – where turbines have been forced offshore due to limited availability of suitable land. We know now that the wind capacity is significantly greater offshore, and with better offshore wind turbine technology, larger turbines can be erected and provide more clean energy.
The United Kingdom and Denmark are generally regarded as the world’s leaders in offshore wind energy, with a bevy of farms on hand, including the largest in the world – Lynn and Inner Dowsing, off the coast of Lincolnshire, England. Recently completed, Lynn and Inner Dowsing’s 54 turbines have a capacity of 194 megawatts, enough to power 130,000 homes. To compare, there currently are at least 10 proposed U.S. offshore wind farms with expected individual capacities meeting or exceeding 200 megawatts.
OBOE has the significant advantage of experience to implement its offshore wind project in North Carolina. We know the distance from the coastline that will yield the minimal visual impact, based on turbine specifications and analysis of other completed projects as well as visual studies. And we have been able to review the environmental impact to date from those projects and determine the comprehensive set of studies needed to ensure an environmentally sensitive plan.
The end result is that we now have an incredible bank of resources at our fingertips, such as the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) and business relationships with other developers, contractors, suppliers and consultants. We possess the key components needed to create and implement an abundant resource that benefits the greatest number of consumers. The people of North Carolina can rest assured that its future in offshore wind energy will be guided using the best practices and principles we have learned along the way.
August 19th, 2009 at 8:26 am
[...] The Case For Offshore Wind Farms [...]