Many may have thought it would never happen but now finally, after a lengthy delay, the US looks set to realize the benefits of offshore wind power. We may still have a long way to go to catch up with, and indeed to challenge, our European counterparts, but if we act positively now this move could revolutionize the country’s energy supply …
So just why has it taken the US quite so long to catch up with the thinking of our friends across the Atlantic and actually realize the very real benefits of offshore wind power? In Denmark, for instance, E.ON has recently opened its offshore wind farm, Rosand II. Lying between the German island of Fehmarn and the Danish island of Lolland and with a capacity of 207MW, the new farm should provide enough clean, renewable energy for a staggering 200,000 homes. E.ON obviously saw the benefits of this technology of the future, since it saw fit to invest some €400m in Rosand II – just one of many such projects throughout the continent.
So why the delays this side of the pond? Partly this has been undoubtedly due to a simple lack of foresight – the fear of the unknown, a phobia which we all fall prone to at some time or another. Then there was the question of the uncertainly surrounding climate change legislation from the Senate. All in all, it was starting to look like we would be left behind for ever. Then the ideological change came – starting on the Eastern Seaboard.
With approval granted for the enormous Cape Wind project off the Massachusetts coast, following a 10-year struggle, the Department of the Interior has now signed a crucially significant agreement with 10 East Coast states to establish the Atlantic Offshore Wind Energy Consortium, promoting the development of wind resources in the area. The agreement was recently signed between Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and state governors of Maine, New York, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina.
This consortium will now develop a systematic scheme to streamline offshore projects spanning several states at a time, optimizing inter-state expertise and attempting to ease the red tape difficulties between state and federal authorities. So let’s add some statistics to see what all this might mean to the average American citizen.
- News
- PES Essential
- Wind
please download the PDF below.
More from across PES
First offshore pilot project for large-scale oyster reef restoration in Belgian North Sea
· BELREEFS is the first offshore project for large-scale oyster reef restoration in the Belgian North Sea. · Innovative techniques will facilitate the introduction of a self-sustaining oyster reef. · The project relies on a unique collaboration between government, industry and science. Before 1850, flat oyster reefs were a dominant structural and ecological component of… Read more »
TE Connectivity’s ALR 11000 digital photocell with dimming capability helps significantly reduce electricity costs for street lighting
Zhaga D4i-certified ALR digital photocells from TE help lower power consumption and reduce CO2 emissions BERWYN, Pennsylvania – July 3, 2024 – TE Connectivity, a world leader in connectors and sensors, launches the Zhaga-D4i certified ALR 11000 digital dimming photocell. TE’s latest photocell controls the on/off switching of a streetlight, and also has the ability… Read more »
DNV’S LUCY CRAIG APPOINTED AS BOARD MEMBER FOR WINDEUROPE
Zaragoza, Spain, 02 July 2024 : DNV, the independent energy expert and assurance provider, is proud to announce that Lucy Craig, Senior Vice President and Director of Growth, Innovation and Digitalization, Energy Systems, has been elected as a board member for WindEurope, the voice of the wind industry in Europe. With over 500 members from… Read more »
Sineng Electric Supplies 1,016MW of Inverters to the Al Kahfah PV Project in Saudi Arabia
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, July 1, 2024 — Sineng Electric, a global leading PV+ESS solution provider, has partnered with Larsen & Toubro and supplied 1,016MW of its 6.6MW MV turnkey stations to the Al Kahfah solar farm in Saudi Arabia. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in Sineng’s mission to deliver innovative and efficient energy solutions… Read more »
Enviromena secures £30m funding from Close Brothers Energy for construction of 70MW solar farm in Essex
Clean energy solutions company Enviromena has reached financial close with Close Brothers Energy to build a 70MW solar farm in Essex. The £30m deal, which includes a development and term loan facility, is part of a wider facility agreed with Close Brothers Energy in December 2023. The facility will be used to fund the construction and… Read more »
DNV CONDUCTS POWER CURVE VERIFICATION AT BAY OF ST. BRIEUC OFFSHORE WIND FARM USING ADVANCED NACELLE LIDAR TECHNOLOGY
DNV is performing power curve verification using advanced nacelle lidar technology at Ailes Marines’ Bay of St. Brieuc offshore wind farm, enhancing operational efficiency and aligning energy production with projections. DNV’s project includes designing, commissioning, and executing a power performance measurement campaign for turbines, ensuring compliance with updated industry standards. The Bay of St. Brieuc… Read more »
Ciel & Terre EMEA has begun the European largest floating solar project’s installation
Solar and wind are increasingly competitive in wholesale power markets, offer a hedge against the uncertain cost of other generation sources
ABB and Cleanwatts sign MOU to accelerate intelligent energy management in communities and buildings
Online Magazine Reader
- Solar/PV
- Wind
- China