Greentech Lead America: The U.K. and U.S. will join hands
to develop floating wind turbines to generate offshore wind power at lower
cost.
The U.K. government will collaborate with the U.S. for
developing wind technology to generate power in deep waters that are currently
off-limits to conventional turbines.
UK’s wind resource accounts for about one-third of
Europe’s offshore wind potential.
Developing a new technology will increase UK’s potential
for offshore wind power, particularly after 2020, by which time many shallower
sites will have been developed. A new technology is needed to access waters
between 60 and 100 meters deep.
The U.K. government is looking at reducing the current
high cost of offshore wind, reducing the expense of seabed foundations and
allowing repairs on floating wind platforms to be carried out in port rather
than out at sea.
“Britain has more wind turbines installed around its
shores than any other country in the world, and our market is rated year after
year as the most attractive market among investors. Offshore wind is critical
for the UK’s energy future, and there is big interest around the world in what
we’re doing,” said Energy secretary Ed Davey.
The Energy Technologies Institute is commissioning a £25
million offshore wind floating system demonstrator, which will require the
chosen participants to produce an offshore wind turbine that can generate 5 MW
to 7 MW by 2016.
In the US, four offshore projects are being backed by the
Department of Energy, potentially including a floating wind demonstration,
according to a report in guardian.co.uk.
Norway already has a full-scale demonstration of a
floating wind turbine, while a similar project is underway off Portugal.