Tackling the Challenges of Offshore Wind

This is an excerpt from the Fourth Quarter 2012 edition of the Wind Program R&D Newsletter.

Charlestown, Massachusetts—While electricity produced by land-based wind farms in the wind-rich regions of the United States is fast becoming cost competitive with traditional generation sources at $0.07 per kilowatt-hour (unsubsidized), cost estimates of $0.22 per kilowatt-hour for offshore production present a major hurdle to widespread offshore deployment. The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Offshore Wind Strategy is to reduce the cost of offshore wind energy and enable the deployment of 54 gigawatts by 2030.

To accomplish its goals, DOE is working with its national laboratories and industry partners to develop larger tougher turbines that produce more electricity and can operate reliably in the punishing marine environment. Increasing the size and durability of wind turbine blades will increase the amount of energy captured and help to reduce the cost of operation and maintenance. Blade failures are one of the biggest challenges the wind industry is working to overcome. An article recently published by Forbes describes DOE's efforts to improve manufacturing processes and test procedures to ensure the longer blades produced by the offshore wind industry can survive more than a decade in the abusive ocean environment.

To learn more about how the technology has evolved over the past few decades and DOE's continued efforts to push the envelope and develop the next generation of wind turbines, visit the Wind Program's Offshore Wind Technology webpage and read Offshore Wind: Enormous Potential, Huge Challenges.