Is it time now that we start tapping into the wind energy from the deep waters of the sea? The Atlantic, North Sea and Mediterranean have all been considered for long towards developing offshore wind farms but only few steps have been taken in that direction.
The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) estimates that by 2020 this source of renewable energy could be providing electricity for around 39 million households! That’s an impressive reach. Even in the US, Deepwater wind was commissioned to pave the way for a pilot wind energy project close to the shores of Rhode Island.
These structures are reliant on deep seas, and the effective evaluation of changing weather patterns. According to some sources, floating offshore wind turbines could produce more electricity in the North Atlantic, as they won’t interfere with each other.
Yet, most of these structures are still under development. Innovation and competition needs to be encouraged among the providers and also regulators in North America and Europe. Regulatory frameworks are still under discussion with few laws in place for this model to move forward. This is despite the fact that alternative renewable energy sources usually get more funding and legislative attention.
What could be the potential impact of offshore wind farms? This could motivate other countries around the world to build similar platforms. Taiwan has already evaluated structures developed by North American and European companies and has initiated plans to develop them in the South China Sea. Some of the key challenges and opportunities that need to be given high priority in this new and emergent space are described below:
Overall, the prospects are very bright but these high priority steps need to be taken soon.
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About the Author: Adi G is an industry veteran with several years of experience in dealing with Energy, Utility and Resources industry clients and likes to present his views on topics that impact not just the industry but our communities and society in general. He can be reached @ady@luxconsultingservices.com
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