The UK and US will work together to develop “floating” wind turbines to harness more offshore wind power at a potentially lower cost, the UK Government said yesterday.
Before this week’s clean energy meeting of ministers from 23 countries in London, the government announced it will collaborate with the US in developing wind technology to generate power in deep waters that are currently off-limits to conventional turbines.
To exploit the UK’s huge wind resource, which accounts for about a third of Europe’s offshore wind potential, new technology is needed to gain access to waters between 65 and 110 yards deep – too deep for turbines fixed to the seabed but where wind speeds are consistently higher.
It is hoped developing the technology will increase the UK’s potential for offshore wind power, particularly post-2020 when shallower sites have been developed.
The government believes it could reduce the current high costs of offshore wind, cutting the expense of seabed foundations and allowing repairs on floating wind platforms to be carried out in port rather than out at sea.
Energy Secretary Ed Davey said: “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 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.
“Floating wind turbines will allow us to exploit more of the our wind resource, potentially more cheaply.
“Turbines will be able to locate in ever-deeper waters where the wind is stronger, but without the expense of foundations down to the seabed or having to undertake major repairs out at sea.
“The UK and US are both making funding available for this technology and we’re determined to work together to capitalise on this shared intent.”
The Energy Technologies Institute is commissioning a £25million offshore wind floating system demonstrator which will require the chosen participants to produce an offshore wind turbine which can generate up to 5MW to 7MW by 2016.
The project could be demonstrated off the Cornish coast at the WaveHub site.
In the US, four offshore projects are being backed by the Department of Energy and Climate Change, potentially including a floating wind demonstration.
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