Stabilizing Offshore Wind Power

Barring objections from residents with ocean and lakeside views, one of the chief advantages of offshore wind is that it stays out of sight. Even though a recent report by Ontario’s chief medical officer concluded there was no evidence that the noise from wind turbines leads to adverse health effects, for example, residents are often still uneasy about letting a power plant, even a renewable one, in their backyards. That’s why a new kind of wind turbine, set to be released as a prototype in 2012 off the coast of Maine, offers hope for further offshore wind power.

Because they’re buffeted by wind and waves, offshore turbines have to be anchored to the ocean floor. But in deeper water, these supports aren’t practical, meaning that nearer developments have to contend with nearby residents’ objections. That’s why a consortium of companies calling itself DeepCwind is trying to develop a self-stabilizing offshore turbine.

The three models they’re currently testing float at 1/50th scale in a pool at the University of Maine in Orono. One is a large tube with a massive keel beneath and anchors, another is secured using taut cables and the third, also held in place by cables, is balanced by a pair of semi-submersible platforms, like a catamaran’s. Depending on the results of these tests, DeepCwind will select one for the designs as the basis for a 30-metre-high prototype that will be towed to four kilometres off Maine’s Monhegan Island.

Canada doesn’t currently have any offshore wind, though the NaiKun Wind Energy Group had hoped to be the first: installing 110 turbines in BC’s Hectate Strait. Unfortunately for the project, when BC Hydro announced its Clean Call for new sources of renewable electricity supply, NaiKun was not among them. Given the current level of interest in renewable power sources, however, it seems like offshore wind will eventually be a reality in Canada. If that’s true, and residents surrounding the Great Lakes don’t want turbines there, it won’t be long before Canadians begin looking for self-stabilizing wind turbines of their own.

Via New Scientist