RENEWABLE ENERGY
Using a standard wind turbine on top of a spar-buoy type floater anchored with three mooring lines, Principle Power demonstrated its floating semi- sub technology named WindFloat first in Portugal in 2011 and the technology is now about to put in operation (2020) for what will now be the world’s largest floating wind farm, Kincardine in Scotland, rated 50MW. In Japan a consortium of 11 companies established Fukushima FORWARD, which has developed (2013-2015) a floating wind farm with a floating substation and three turbines employing different floating technologies: compact semi-sub, advanced spar and v-shape semi-sub.” Despite these flagship projects,
Tande states that the technology and market for floating wind is still at an early phase globally, with only some tens of MW installed capacity, while the accumulated bottom-fixed offshore wind capacity is totalling about 30GW. He adds: “However, according to a detailed resource study by IEA, 80% of the offshore wind potential is at deep water that can only be rationally exploited by the use of floating technology. Terefore, floating will be vital for the further development of the offshore wind sector. Indeed, bottom-fixed will likely dominate for the next few years, but through development of the floating wind technology and supply chain, floating wind will become increasingly attractive. “Exactly how fast this development will happen, is not only a question of industry initiative or research, but also that policies are put in place with clear targets and economic incentives to accelerate the progress. For 2030, it is
Mapping out the Tampen wind farm project
realistic to see a number of GW scale floating wind farms, and for 2050, I expect about one third of the global offshore wind capacity to be floating, possibly more.”
HOW TO PROCEED Looking ahead, Tande says that with regard to the two key trends discussed above – floating offshore wind technology and the integration of offshore wind energy to create zero-emissions power systems – adopting modern engineering solutions will assist in both aims. “Within both areas I believe digitalisation can play a major role in accelerating the development and creating value. We should aim for smarter design and operation, and ensure that at all times we have respect for nature and our joint well-being,” he concludes.
What’s next for wind energy?
LEARNING FROM OTHER SECTORS T
o achieve the wind sector’s goals requires an acceleration in the development with
more industry and jobs directed towards offshore wind energy. Tande believes that onshore wind development has proven that this is possible. “The offshore wind
development is closely linked with the onshore development. It is essentially the same turbine that are being used offshore and onshore, and the way the onshore industry has been able to scale up I think can serve as a model also for the offshore sector,” he comments.
“One can always learn from other sectors. I believe that in the future there will not only be large offshore wind farms, but also tidal and wave and offshore solar plants can be developed to play a significant role in the future harvesting of energy from the ocean.”
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