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1.3.2024 by Paul Gerke
The roughly 5 megawatts of power delivered by Tuesday’s premier test represents only a small fraction of the project’s promised capacity- more than 800 MW- when Vineyard Wind 1 is fully operational later in 2024.
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🌞 Vineyard Wind 1 marks another 🏅 milestone, sends first 💨⚡ power to the grid 🍾 just behind 😕 schedule (https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/wind-power/vineyard-wind-1-marks-another-milestone-sends-first-power-to-the-grid-just-behind-schedule/)
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(https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-250223170026.png) 017 The Birth Of The Rose Wind Turbine (https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-110422205132-649552.gif)
https://youtu.be/xdZf1JPHgLg
TNT Omnibus 23.9K subscribers 71,267 views Sep 28, 2023
(https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-110422205132-649552.gif) The Rose Wind Turbine In Use
https://youtu.be/s3as1P4wNmI
16,524 views Sep 29, 2023
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September 20, 2023 By Mike Schuler
The Biden Administration has issued a comprehensive roadmap to accelerate offshore wind transmission in the U.S. Atlantic region.
The action plan, released today but the Departments of the Interior and Energy, aims to help unlock the region’s renewable energy potential, strengthen the domestic supply chain, and create union jobs.
The plan outlines immediate actions to connect first-generation of offshore wind projects to the electric grid and long-term efforts to support transmission over the next few decades, providing for more efficient energy delivery.
The plan sets out short, medium, and long-term goals along with recommendations for establishing collaborative bodies, updating transmission planning, addressing costs, and convening with states, industry, and federal agencies to plan for an offshore transmission network. It also suggests standardizing HVDC technology requirements and establishing a national testing and certification center for HVDC substations.
The plan is part of the administration’s goal to deploy 30 GW of offshore wind by 2030 and achieve a 100% clean electric grid by 2035. The Energy Department and Atlantic states have already started collaborating on the formation of an Offshore Wind Transmission State Collaborative to develop a shared vision on policy and coordination for offshore transmission development. (https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-050422180949.png)
The Action Plan was developed based on the Atlantic Offshore Wind Transmission Study, which is due to be released soon by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. It was also informed by a series of convening workshops with subject matter experts and decision makers from Tribal nations, state governments, and regional transmission operators, taking place from April 2022 to March 2023.
https://gcaptain.com/biden-administration-issues-roadmap-to-boosting-atlantic-offshore-wind-transmission/
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July 6, 2023 By John Konrad
The 🌊 Challenging Future Of Floating Wind Farms
SNIPPETS:
The industry is locked in a race against time, innovating and experimenting with various floater designs. Some are opting for concrete over steel, as exemplified by the Hywind Tampen project. However, the future seems to favor steel, with the majority of the floating offshore wind farms in the coming years expected to be steel-based. The steel requirement for each floater is estimated to be twice that of monopile foundations for bottom-fixed wind farms. This implies that managing a floating wind project’s capital expenditure will necessitate large and cost-efficient fabrication capacities, likely situated far from the installation sites in Europe or the US.
Why this insatiable demand for steel? The answer lies in the realm of physics.
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Three of the common types of floating wind turbine platforms. Josh Bauer/NREL
Picture these turbines as towering giants, their heads piercing the sky, their bodies plunging into the depths of the sea. They stand tall, like a lever arm, with the wind exerting its force high up at the turbine’s shaft. This scenario is reminiscent of a child on a seesaw, pushing down on one end with all their might. The turbine, like the seesaw, experiences a torque, a rotational force that threatens to topple it.
Beneath the surface, the floater serves as a counterbalance, akin to the leaded keel of a sailboat. It provides a low center of gravity, helping to keep the structure upright. But this is only part of the solution. The wind, relentless and powerful, pushes against the turbine, threatening to displace it from its location.
This is where anchors or tension legs – connected via thick cables – come into play, serving as the roots of these sea giants. They dig deep into the seabed, holding the turbine in place, much like the roots of a tree gripping the earth to withstand a storm. These anchors or tension legs counteract the force of the wind, preventing the turbine from being pushed off its location. ... ...
The sea, in all its majestic grandeur, is a realm of relentless forces. It is a world where saltwater gnaws at metal, where winds howl with unyielding ferocity, and where waves 🌊 crash with the power of a thousand hammers.
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In this harsh and unforgiving environment, our floating wind turbines would stand as defiant sentinels, their survival a testament to human ingenuity. Yet, their existence will be a constant battle against the elements.
The longevity and reliability of these structures are paramount, but achieving this is no small feat. The corrosive saltwater, the battering winds, and the relentless waves all conspire to wear down the turbines and their components. Regular maintenance is the shield against this onslaught, a necessary ritual to ensure their continued operation.
Yet, the task of maintenance is a complex dance with the elements. The turbines stand in remote locations, far from the comforting shores, making them difficult to access. The logistics of this task are akin to the challenges faced by the oil and gas industry in their deepwater construction projects. The costs, both financial and logistical, are substantial, but they are the price we pay for harnessing the power of the wind in the vast expanse of the sea.
The other shield is engineering durability into the design, this is effective but requires the use of expensive metals and high-end components.
Full article:(https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-040422164520-5301778.gif)(https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-040422164555-532108.png)
https://gcaptain.com/challenging-future-of-floating-wind-farms/
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May 30, 2023 By Mike Schuler
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A photo shows the Maersk Pelican with two 30-meter Norsepower Rotor Sails installed. Photo courtesy Norsepower
New Study Confirms Fuel Savings (https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-050422144605.png) from Norsepower Rotor Sails and Weather Routing
SNIPPETS:
For the study, Norsepower worked with leading maritime software and data services expert, NAPA, and Sumitomo Heavy Industries Marine & Engineering (SHI-ME), one of the world’s top shipyards. The companies are announcing the results of the first phase of the project exploring the potential for fuel savings and emissions reduction from a combination of Norsepower’s Rotor Sail solution and NAPA Voyage Optimization on one of SHI-ME’s ships.
Norsepower Rotor Sails is a modernized version of the Flettner rotor that uses the magnus effect to generate forward thrust, reducing overall fuel consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions. The technology has been used across multiple sectors of the shipping industry for over eight years and has 250,000 operating hours of verified performance data, revealing fuel consumption savings of anywhere from 5-25%.
The initial phase of the simulation project, conducted from December 2022 to March 2023, revealed that the integration of NAPA Voyage Optimization with the Norsepower Rotor Sail could achieve an average emissions reduction of 28% on the New York to Amsterdam Atlantic route. NAPA Voyage Optimization contributed approximately 12% to these CO2 emissions savings. ... ...
Phase two of the research project, commencing in May 2023, aims to expand on the initial findings and optimize vessel performance with Norsepower Rotor Sails using fleet data. Advanced performance analysis will be conducted to enhance operational efficiency and explore new optimization strategies. SHI-ME intends to develop a new proof of concept for wind-assisted ships equipped with Norsepower Rotor Sails as part of this project. ... ...
Jukka Kuuskoski, Chief Sales Officer of Norsepower, emphasized the importance of clean technologies in addressing fuel-saving and environmental concerns. “This performance data on the benefits of adopting clean technologies will give the industry the necessary confidence to invest in decarbonization,” said Kuuskoski (https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-040622153109-13652067.png)
Full article: (https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-040422164615-5351419.gif)
https://gcaptain.com/new-study-confirms-fuel-savings-from-norsepower-rotor-sails-and-weather-routing/
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April 13, 2023 By Mike Schuler
Havfram Wind Adds to Contract Backlog
RWE and Northland Power are one step closer to deploying their joint offshore wind project, Nordseecluster, after selecting Havfram Wind as the preferred supplier.
The Nordseecluster project will produce up to ⚡ 1.6 gigawatts (GW) of power and consist of four offshore wind farm sites in the German North Sea. (https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-050422133332.gif)
Havfram Wind will transport and support the installation of a minimum of 104 Vestas offshore wind turbines with a capacity of 15 MW each.
The Nordseecluster will be constructed in two phases, with commercial operations starting in early 2027 and early 2029, respectively.
Havfram Wind will be utilizing one of its newly built NG20000X Jack-Up vessels with a 3,250-tonne crane.
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The project is expected to generate enough green electricity to supply the equivalent of 1.6 million German households every year.
“Signing the preferred supplier agreement for the transport and installation support of the entire lot of wind turbines for a gigantic project like Nordseecluster is proof of our growing position in the market,” said Even Larsen, CEO Havfram Wind. “I am proud of the trust RWE and Northland Power have in the Havfram Wind team. Participating in such a project of scale is a milestone for our development as a pure play offshore wind company.”
The NG20000X jack-up is one of up to four Wind Turbine Installation Vessels (WTIVs) Havfram Wind has on order at the at CIMC-Raffles shipyard in China. The vessels, equipped with a 3,250-tonne crane and hybrid battery propulsion, will be capable of handling the world’s largest wind turbines (20+ megawatts) in waters up to 70 meters deep. Delivery of the first vessel is due in 2024.
Last month, offshore wind developer Ørsted selected Havfram Wind to install turbines for the massive Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm project in the North Sea off England. The colossal project will encompass up to 231 offshore wind turbines producing ⚡ 2.8 GW of offshore wind energy. (https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-050422133440.gif)
Havfram was reorganized in 2022 following a $250 million investment from its majority shareholder, Seabrook Capital, along with Canada’s PSP investment. Under the new structure, Havfram AS (formerly known as Ocean Installer AS) was split into Havfram Wind, which will focus entirely on the offshore wind sector, and Havfram Subsea, a subsea company.
https://gcaptain.com/havfram-wind-adds-to-contract-backlog/
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February 1, 2022 By Barry Parker (gCaptain) –
(https://gcaptain.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Crowley-offshore-vessel-compilation-1536x994.jpg)
Illustration courtesy Crowley
Offshore Wind’s Jones Act Supply Chain Getting into (https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-080822141006-1726249.png) Gear
SNIPPET:
Panelist Jeff Andreini of Crowley, which is involved in multiple aspects of the business (“across five verticals”), conveyed his company’s enthusiasm, as indicated by views such as: “Crowley is extremely bullish” and “we are all in,” when describing Crowley’s commitment. He he explained the company had begun in 2016 “chartering our tugs and barges to be able to do the feedering that’s going to be required today.”
The company’s involvement “ramped up in 2020, when: “we decided that we wanted to be much more than just a tug and barge provider. Today our vision is to be a full-service turnkey provider for the supply chain.”
He acknowledged that skepticism exists about offshore wind’s course forward, but said: “We are not [skeptical]…in fact, we have won contracts and will get started with our first one here in May, when we will be transporting, via tug and barge, the transformer for the South Fork project—out of the Gulf of Mexico up to New York. We will follow that up with our first feedering project—two tugs and a barge, to do the transportation of the components of the South Fork project, out of New London, Connecticut. And, then, next year, working together with Fred Olsen… out of the New Jersey wind port, we’ll be transporting 98 turbines…for well over a year and a half.”
The 1.1 gW Ocean Wind 1 windfarm, in Atlantic waters east of Cape May, New Jersey. will be a much larger project than the 132 mW South Fork wind farm, located in waters to the east of Montauk, New York, and utilizing 12 turbines.
Full article: (https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-040422164615-5351419.gif)
https://gcaptain.com/offshore-winds-jones-act-supply-chain-getting-into-gear/
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February 20, 2023
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Denmark's North Sea energy island will produce 3 GW of energy, with a long-term expansion goal of 10 GW, using 200 offshore wind turbines. (Courtesy: Orsted)
NJ regulators bypass 🐘🦖👿 local opposition to advance offshore wind farm (https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-050422144605.png)
SNIPPETS:
They used an amendment to New Jersey’s offshore wind law passed in 2021 and signed into law by Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy removing most local control over where offshore wind projects come ashore. The law enables an offshore wind developer to apply to the utilities board for an order superseding local control over such projects. ... ...
Fiordaliso said the route of the proposed transmission line will not harm Ocean City or Cape May County aesthetically or economically. The ⚡ power cable will run from wind turbines that the company says will be located 15 miles offshore and come ashore in Ocean City, where it will run underground along existing roadways and ⚡ connect to the ⚡ electrical grid at the site of the former B.L. England power plant in Upper Township.
Full article: (https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-040422164615-5351419.gif)
https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/wind-power/nj-regulators-bypass-local-opposition-to-advance-offshore-wind-farm/
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December 19, 2022 Bloomberg
Wind Power Giant Will Make Green Shipping Fuel at Big Plant in Sweden
SNIPPET:
FlagshipONE combines a series of technologies that will all play a growing role in the coming years if the EU is to achieve its ambition to reach net-zero emissions by the middle of the century.
In one part, the site will use 70 megawatts of electrolyzers supplied by Siemens Energy AG to produce hydrogen from Sweden’s electric grid that’s more than 90% supplied by renewable sources. At the same time, machines made by startup Carbon Clean will trap CO2 that’s released from a nearby combined heat and power plant that burns biomass. That CO2 will be combined with the hydrogen using synthesis equipment from Topsoe to form methanol, which can be used to fuel ships.
The 50,000 tons of the fuel will be roughly enough to power a single vessel to make a transatlantic voyage, Breese said. It could also be used locally to power ferries within Europe, rather than using 🦖 fossil fuels. (https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-050422180949.png)
Full article: (https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-040422164555-532108.png)
https://gcaptain.com/wind-power-giant-will-make-green-shipping-fuel-at-big-plant-in-sweden
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December 11, 2022 Editorial
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How Do Floating Wind Turbines Work?
SNIPPETS:
Three main ways to float a turbine
A floating wind turbine works just like other wind turbines – wind pushes on the blades, causing the rotor to turn, which drives a generator that creates electricity. But instead of having its tower embedded directly into the ground or the seafloor, a floating wind turbine sits on a platform with mooring lines, such as chains or ropes, that connect to anchors in the seabed below.
These mooring lines hold the turbine in place against the wind and keep it connected to the cable that sends its electricity back to shore.
Most of the stability is provided by the floating platform itself. The trick is to design the platform so the turbine doesn’t tip too far in strong winds or storms.
(https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-121222160217.webp)
Three of the common types of floating wind turbine platform. Josh Bauer/NREL
There are three main types of platforms:
֍ A spar buoy platform is a long hollow cylinder that extends downward from the turbine tower. It floats vertically in deep water, weighted with ballast in the bottom of the cylinder to lower its center of gravity. It’s then anchored in place, but with slack lines that allow it to move with the water to avoid damage. Spar buoys have been used by the oil and gas industry for years for offshore operations.
֍ Semisubmersible platforms have large floating hulls that spread out from the tower, also anchored to prevent drifting. Designers have been experimenting with multiple turbines on some of these hulls.
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The University of Maine has been experimenting with a small floating wind turbine, about one-eighth scale, on a semisubmersible platform with RWE, one of the winning bidders. AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty
֍ Tension leg platforms have smaller platforms with taut lines running straight to the floor below. These are lighter but more vulnerable to earthquakes or tsunamis because they rely more on the mooring lines and anchors for stability.
Each platform must support the weight of the turbine and remain stable while the turbine operates. It can do this in part because the hollow platform, often made of large steel or concrete structures, provides buoyancy to support the turbine. Since some can be fully assembled in port and towed out for installation, they might be far cheaper than fixed-bottom structures, which require specialty vessels for installation on site. ... ...
Why do we need floating turbines?
Full detailed article: (https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-040422164615-5351419.gif)
https://gcaptain.com/how-do-floating-wind-turbines-work/
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December 6, 2022 by Mike Schuler
(https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.createaforum.com%2Fgallery%2Frenewablerevolution%2F3-301014182902.gif&hash=1dec33f3f6c520ffeac0082b58f46ffa3ed7cedb) Kite System for Ships Trialed on Transatlantic Voyage (https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-220922210737-19981913.png)
France-based wind propulsion specialist Airseas is sharing the first footage of its automated kite system Seawing in use during transatlantic sea trials.
The trial took place on board the roll-on/roll-off ship Ville de Bordeaux as it transported aircraft components between Europe and the United States. With the release of the new footage, Airseas is also announcing the successful completion of the crucial initial stages of sea trials.
Flying at an altitude of about 200 meters, the Seawing system comes in both 250 sq meter 500 sq meter versions, both of which were on board for the trial.
Combining expertise from the aerospace and maritime sectors, Seawing is aiming to slash fuel consumption and emissions by an average of 20% by harnessing the wind to reduce the main engine load. It’s using “digital twins” and advanced automation systems to ensure that the system could be safely deployed, operated and stored at the push of a button with minimal input or training needed from crew.
The 154-meter-long Ville de Bordeaux is operated by Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) and chartered by Airbus, Airseas’ minority shareholder and launch customer. A team of Airseas engineers is on board to test the system and gather data, with the operational support of LDA’s crew and Airbus’ Transport & Logistics department.
https://youtu.be/opNhqdeif5w
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The Seawing system has applications on virtually any type of commercial vessel. Airseas has also received firm orders from K Line, a Japanese shipowner who owns the fifth largest fleet worldwide, for five Seawing systems, with additional options to equip up to 51 vessels in total. (https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-050422130124.jpeg)
Airseas says the first stages of the sea trials have successfully validated key steps such as the folding and unfolding of the wing, take-off and landing, and flights in altitude. The next phase will test the Seawing in a broader range of weather conditions and fine-tune the automation system.
“Seeing the Seawing in action on a commercial vessel is such a proud moment for us, and the culmination of years of meticulous research and development,” said Vincent Bernatets, CEO of Airseas. “Testing a brand new technology in real-life conditions and while respecting the operational constraints of a commercial ship is an ambitious endeavour, and the solid progress of our sea trials is a testimony to the dedication of our team of engineers on board and on shore.”
“With these strong initial results, we’re more determined than ever to keep testing the system and collecting data, and accelerate our mission to scale up and rapidly deploy wind propulsion technology on vessels around the world. Immediate action is needed to tackle climate change and shipping’s impact on GHG emissions; we are proud to have a solution that can help ships reduce their emissions right now, and accelerate the decarbonisation of the maritime sector over the coming years.,” Bernatets added.
The deployment of Seawing on commercial voyages could mark an important milestone for wind propulsion technology in commercial maritime shipping, which is responsible for about 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
“We are committed to playing an active role in reducing shipping’s carbon emissions, starting now. We are proud to be associated with this project as a supplier and partner of Airbus, working for the success of this innovative wind propulsion solution alongside Airseas,” said Antoine Person, Corporate Secretary of Louis Dreyfus Armateurs. (https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-050422133332.gif)
https://gcaptain.com/new-kite-system-for-ships-trialed-on-transatlantic-voyage/
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October 12, 2022 By Mike Schuler
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Illustration of a floating offshore wind farm courtesy Damen
Floating Offshore Wind Pipeline Sees Explosive Growth (https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-050422133440.gif)
The global pipeline of floating offshore wind projects has more than doubled in terms of capacity in the past year with the UK leading the charge, according to a new report by RenewableUK.
According to the report, the number of projects in the global pipeline, spanning from those in early planning stages to operational, has increased from 130 projects to 230 projects in just the last 12 months. In terms of capacity, the pipeline has expanded from 91GW a year ago to 185GW today.
The pipeline in the UK is much larger than that of any other country. A year ago, the UK had 23GW worth of floating wind capacity in the pipeline, compared to over 33GW today. Over the same period, the number of projects has increased from 29 to 51, with projects planned in the North Sea, Celtic Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean.
Among the 185GW global pipeline, nine projects representing 121MW capacity are fully commissioned in seven countries. Another 96MW worth of projects are under construction, 288MW are consented or in the pre-construction phase, 31GW are in planning or has a lease agreement, and 153GW are in early development or in the leasing process.
Europe represents approximately 58%, or 107GW, of the floating capacity pipeline, while UK represents 18% with 33.3GW, of which 29GW is planned in Scottish waters. Outside Europe, leasing areas off the west coast of the United States, along with project proposals off the south east coast of Australia and South Korea, make up the majority of the rest of the capacity.
The report states that by the end of 2030, commissioned floating wind capacity in the UK could reach 11GW, with 31GW in Europe and 41GW globally.
The report also notes that demand for floating foundations is expected to ramp up fast, with the potential for nearly 1,000 floating foundations to be installed in UK waters by the end of 2030, with 3,200 floating foundations installed globally by the end of the decade. (https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-050422180949.png)
“The growth of floating offshore wind is surging ahead at a phenomenal rate year on year around the world. We’re proud that the UK is a global leader in this innovative technology with nearly a fifth of the total pipeline – significantly greater than any other country,” say RenewableUK’s CEO Dan McGrail. “In the years ahead, as we build projects further out to sea where wind speeds are even stronger, floating wind will play a central role in proving cheap, clean electricity for British homes as well as boosting our energy security.
“It also offers a significant opportunity to build up a whole new industry in the UK, with a world-class supply chain which will enable us to export our expertise and state of the art technology worldwide,” McGrail adds.
https://gcaptain.com/floating-offshore-wind-pipeline-sees-explosive-growth/
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October 10, 2022 By Mike Schuler
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Photo courtesy Akita Offshore Wind Corporation
Japan’s First Commercial Offshore Wind Farm Takes Shape (https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-120422122257-65551.png)
All 33 offshore wind turbines have now been installed (https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-050422144605.png) at Japan’s first commercial-scale offshore wind farm.
The installation was carried out by Seajacks International’s Seajacks Zaratan jackup vessel at the Akita and Noshiro offshore wind farm situated off the Japanese Akita Prefecture.
The project, which is owned by Akita Offshore Wind Corporation (AOW), is the first commercial-scale fixed-bottom wind farm to be constructed in Japan. It is being constructed at two locations just off Akita Port and the nearby Noshiro Port.
The two locations have a total capacity of 140 megawatts (MW), enough to ⚡ power approximately 150,000 homes. The power will be sold to Tohoku Electric Power Co. under a 20-year purchase agreement.
(https://gcaptain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/pro0062_01-1536x1023.jpg)
Akita Offshore Wind Corporation
“The completion of the turbine installation at Akita and Noshiro is an achievement that all parties involved can be proud of. (https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Frenewablerevolution.createaforum.com%2Fgallery%2Frenewablerevolution%2F3-250817121649.png&hash=4554f7e59701d12857946aece16bceb973c997b3) The project is a powerful demonstration of a successful collaboration between international partners to deliver a successful project outcome,” said Seajacks CEO, Blair Ainslie. “It is a testament to the capabilities of all parties, that the project has been completed safely and without any major incidents, despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.” (https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-070422160139.gif)
Commercial operations of the wind farm are planned to begin later this year.
UK-based Seajacks International is a wholly owned subsidiary of Eneti Inc. (NYSE: NETI). The company owns and operates an advanced fleet of self-propelled jack-up vessels (https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-120422122720-6841842.png) operating in offshore wind and oil and gas sectors.
https://gcaptain.com/japans-first-commercial-offshore-wind-farm-takes-shape/
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At DSM we are proud to play an important role in renewable energy generation. We are committed to the United Nations Sustainable Development goals, and as part of this continue to advocate responsible action on climate change with our stakeholders, while increasing the use of renewables in our energy mix to reduce our carbon footprint. Dyneema® is helping deliver a renewable energy future.
With renewable power sources like wind farms increasingly recognized as an answer to the world’s rising ⚡ energy demands, ropes, slings and synthetic chains made with Dyneema® will play a significant role in making renewable energy viable. (https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Frenewablerevolution.createaforum.com%2Fgallery%2Frenewablerevolution%2F3-250817121649.png&hash=4554f7e59701d12857946aece16bceb973c997b3)
https://www.dsm.com/dyneema/en_GB/home.html
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8.23.2022 By David Cox, PE - President FirmoGraphs -
(https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-040422164555-532108.png)
10 major wind projects in development in 2022 (https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/wind-power/10-major-wind-projects-in-development-in-2022/?utm_source=rew_weekly_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2022-08-24)
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August 17, 2022 By Mike Schuler
(https://gcaptain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Photo20credit_20The20Virginia20Port20Authority-1536x1024.jpg)
Virginia Awards $223 Million Contract for Offshore Wind Port Project (https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-050422133440.gif)
SNIPPETS:
The contract was awarded to Skanska USA, the U.S.-based unit of the Swedish multinational specializing in construction and development.
The project entails the redevelopment of approximately 72 acres of the 287-acre Portsmouth Marine Terminal located in Portsmouth, Virginia, which will improve 1,500 feet of an existing 3,540-foot wharf.
The terminal is set to serve as an offshore wind staging port for Dominion Energy’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project, which is the largest offshore wind project currently planned in the U.S.
Construction at the terminal is set to begin in July 2022, with completion is scheduled for 2025. ... ...
The contract award comes about a week after the State of Virginia approved the 2.6-gigawatt CVOW farm, consisting of 176 (https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-110422180553-643238.gif) wind turbines (https://gcaptain.com/largest-offshore-wind-farm-in-u-s-wins-state-approval/) to be constructed 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach.
(https://gcaptain.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/shutterstock_130551395.jpg)
The farm will be capable of generating enough energy to power up to 660,000 homes starting in 2026. ... ...
(https://gcaptain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/South-Brooklyn-Marine-Terminal-offshore-wind.jpg)
A preliminary illustration of the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal offshore wind port. Courtesy Equinor
Similar port redevelopment projects to support offshore wind project are also planned in New York at the historic South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (https://gcaptain.com/plan-for-new-york-offshore-wind-port-hits-major-milestone/), as well as in Salem (https://gcaptain.com/vineyard-wind-and-crowley-to-develop-offshore-wind-port-at-historic-new-england-harbor/) and New Bedford (https://gcaptain.com/semco-marine-to-create-offshore-wind-service-and-maintenance-hub-in-massachusetts/) in Massachusetts.
With regards to the Portsmouth Marine Terminal project, Skanska’s work will include:
Full article: (https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-040422164613-5332481.jpeg)
https://gcaptain.com/virginia-awards-223-million-contract-for-offshore-wind-port-project/
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CleanTechnica
August 3, 2022 By Guest Contributor
Can Meteorological Models Correctly Characterize Daily Cycles In Wind Generation?
SNIPPETS:
It is challenging and expensive to measure wind speeds at tower height (~90 meters), and publicly available data, from tall towers or remote sensing, is very limited. Therefore, researchers and practitioners commonly use meteorological models to characterize wind speeds at tower height and above. But, how well do these models work? Can they accurately characterize wind profiles, and what are their limitations?
A new study (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/we.2759) out of Berkeley Lab and the University of California, San Diego, evaluates three commonly used weather models for their ability to characterize hourly profiles of wind speeds (at tower height) across Texas. The study was published in the journal Wind Energy. ... ...
Key Findings
🌬 The analysis found that, by some metrics, these weather models performed well, and accurately represented hourly profiles of wind generation resources across Texas. However, the paper also identifies key areas in which the accuracy of these models is limited. Note, our results mostly focus on two of the three models we evaluated (ERA5 and MERRA2), as we evaluated the model HRRR over only a subset of the study period.
🌬 The models represent wind generation with relatively small bias and decent hourly correlation. Specifically, the average error across all hours and plants, in capacity factor terms, was 1.1% for ERA5 and 6.4% for MERRA2 (implying, for example, that a plant with a recorded capacity factor of 40% would be modeled with a 46.4% capacity factor using MERRA2). Average hourly correlation coefficients range from 0.7 to 0.9, depending on the model and hour of the day (see Figure 2).
(https://cleantechnica.com/files/2022/08/limitations_of_reanalyis_image_2-e1659457373477.png)
Figure 2. Correlation coefficient by hour (in solar time) for MERRA2, ERA5, and HRRR, for the year 2019.
🌬 Errors were larger on an hourly basis than a daily basis. For example, the probability that modeled capacity factor from the ERA5 model was within ±20% of recorded capacity factor was 78% on an hourly basis, but 99% on a daily basis. Again, this is in capacity factor terms, so, for example, if recorded capacity factor for a day was 80%, there was a 99% probability that the ERA5 model capacity factor was between 60% to 100% for that day and plant. MERRA2 followed a similar pattern, but with slightly lower accuracy in both daily and hourly timeframes.
🌬 Improved geographic model resolution reduced errors and improved correlation. ERA5 (horizontal resolution ~30 km) performed better than MERRA2 (horizontal resolution ~50 km), and HRRR (horizontal resolution 3 km) had the best performance metrics. Though resolution is dramatically different between the models, other methodological differences within the models likely also contributed to performance differences.
🌬 Correlation between modeled and recorded generation declined during nighttime hours, especially during summertime.
Full article:(https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Frenewablerevolution.createaforum.com%2Fgallery%2Frenewablerevolution%2F1%2F3-120818184310-1635923.gif&hash=5e2530db4748ed6c7163e1d478fdfa3cd1108668)
https://cleantechnica.com/2022/08/03/can-meteorological-models-correctly-characterize-daily-cycles-in-wind-generation/
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June 29, 2022 By Mike Schuler
(https://gcaptain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Berge-Olympus-WindWings-rev-1536x864.jpg)
Image coutesy Berge Bulk, Yara Technologies, BAR Technologies
Berge Bulk Newcastlemax to Be Fitted with ‘WindWings’ Sails
SNIPPET:
The WindWings technology is offered by BAR Technologies and Yara Marine Technologies, who partnered in 2021 to offer commercial-scale wind-assisted propulsion technology to the global shipping industry.
The installation will involve the 2018-built, 210,000 DWT bulk carrier Berge Olympus, making Berge Bulk an early adopter of the technology. The large, solid wing sails will measure up to 50 meters tall and will be capable of reducing CO2 emissions by as much as 30% through a combination of wind propulsion and route optimisation, according to a joint press release. A video also shows the sails tilting.
https://youtu.be/A3eXmbvMI7M
Full article:(https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-040422164555-532108.png)
https://gcaptain.com/berge-bulk-newcastlemax-to-be-fitted-with-windwings-sails/
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May 21, 2022,(Bloomberg) By Irina Anghel and Eamon Akil Farhat
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Coffee Shipped by Sailboats In Efforts To Distrupt The Heavy Ships’ Command Of The High Seas
SNIPPETS:
A few years ago, a small group of environmentally focused entrepreneurs, such as Shipped by Sail in the UK, started using pirate-like schooners to prove that goods like coffee could be transported with near-zero emissions — even if it took more money and all the risks linked with crossing the Atlantic on hundred-year-old wooden boats for a couple dozen bags of high-end beans. ... ...
Here’s a glimpse of the journey: Roasters buy the beans directly from growers in countries like Colombia before they’re stored in a warehouse and loaded onto a sailboat — destined for ports like Le Havre, France or Penzance, England. The crossing typically takes six weeks. The beans are then couriered to specialty roasters before ending up in espressos served in coffee shops or at home.
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(https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-040422164520-5301778.gif) (https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-110422180553-636818.gif) (https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-050422145549-5701455.gif)
“You’re one step away from the coffee being grown, almost,” said Richard Blake, founder of Yallah Coffee, a Cornwall-based roaster who sells beans sailed from Colombia. A 1-kilogram bag of Yallah Coffee’s Las Brisas beans costs £50 ($62) but boasts “a carbon footprint close to zero.” As a price comparison, the most expensive coffee beans UK supermarket Tesco Plc sells online is a 1-kilogram bag for £13.75 ($17).
Blake said people are happy to pay for a premium product “if they feel like there is value in all the steps.”
“That can be lost with the homogenized mix of beans on a supermarket shelf,” he said, “whereas if it’s single origin, and if it’s on a ship, there’s less people in the chain, and that creates more value.” (https://renewablerevolution.createaforum.com/gallery/renewablerevolution/3-250817121649.png)
(https://gcaptain.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/CEIBA_Rendering_1_SAILCARGO_Manta_Marine_Design-1536x1025.jpg)
Ceiba flagship ship that carries the Costa Rican flag with products that can be truly sold under the seal of ‘zero emissions’ like coffee, turmeric, salmon, barley and others,” said John Porras, co-founder and legal representative of Sailcargo.
Full article: (https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-040422164613-5332481.jpeg)
https://gcaptain.com/coffee-shipped-by-sailboats-in-effofts-to-distrupt-the-heavy-ships-command-of-the-high-seas/
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April 6, 2022
SNIPPET:
(CNN)The United States set a major renewable energy milestone last Tuesday: wind power (https://renewablerevolution.createaforum.com/gallery/renewablerevolution/2/3-300919160022-2281531.png) was the second-highest source of ⚡ electricity for the first time since the Energy Information Administration began gathering the data.
As E&E reporter Ben Storrow noted and the EIA confirmed, wind turbines last Tuesday generated over ⚡ 2,000 gigawatt-hours of electricity, edging out electricity generated by (https://www.emofaces.com/en/emoticons/n/nuclear-emoticon.gif) nuclear and ☠️ coal (but still trailing behind 🦕 natural gas) :(.
Last year, wind was the fourth-largest electricity source behind natural gas, coal, and nuclear, generating close to 380 terawatt-hours for the entire year, according to the EIA. For context, a terawatt is a thousand times bigger than a gigawatt.
Read more: (https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/gallery/soberthinking/1-040422164613-5332481.jpeg)
https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/06/politics/wind-energy-milestone-us-climate/index.html
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January 28, 2022
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Chinese Floating Offshore Wind Turbine (https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Frenewablerevolution.createaforum.com%2Fgallery%2Frenewablerevolution%2F1%2F3-120818185038-16442135.gif&hash=52927992b43007fa5c5eb6ffcb453ae29948c356)
In the last year alone, China added 16.9 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity, cementing its position as the world’s biggest market for wind farms at sea (https://content-static.cctvnews.cctv.com/snow-book/index.html?&toc_style_id=feeds_default&share_to=wechat&item_id=4454105915228117018&track_id=B8B09125-4F88-412D-98F1-5FAC7A3BCCC6_664776444709&fbclid=IwAR26lMl2KXuH3ceTL2CtcVZWauU5RhIc2OgRuZP2iSef-4L5EMTFlgzAs6o). The second-biggest market, the U.K., generates about 10 gigawatts of wind total.
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CleanTechnica
October 31, 2013
https://youtu.be/8_ay9aSfhd0
Siemens*, or at least the company it has commissioned to make the video above, knows how to make a wind power advertisement.
One of the key takeaway impressions people seem to have after visiting a wind turbine up close (or even going to the top of one) is how entirely awesome and majestic these giant machines are. They’re staggering in their height and power.
And I’m sure offshore wind turbines are even more impressive, especially the 6-megawatt ones and 7-megawatt ones.
In this new Siemens video, all of this is excellently portrayed in cinematic style — not your typical “green” or cleantech advertisement.
Since Siemens is the company behind this excellent contribution to cleantech messaging and wind turbine branding, I thought I’d share more about what it has been up to in this space. Here are a few of the company’s recent wind power highlights:
1.Siemens To Fullfil 267 MW Wind Order In Washington
2.Largest Federal Wind Farm In US Contract Awarded To Siemens
3.Siemens Opens World’s Largest R&D Test Center For Wind Turbine Technology
4.Siemens To Provide 80 Wind Turbines For Giant German Offshore Wind Power Plant
5.Siemens CEO: Cleantech Is A “Vital Part Of Our Business” (VIDEO)
6.World’s Largest Wind Turbine Rotor Goes Online
Together with other wind power leaders, it should be noted that the cost of wind power has come down tremendously in recent years, from over 30¢/kWh 10 years ago to as low as 4¢/kWh today. :o Notably, this cost dropped has largely been brought on by making wind turbines larger and larger, more and more majestic.
wind turbines are getting bigger and bigger
While the cost optimization from making onshore wind turbines larger and larger seems to be hitting a limit, larger offshore wind turbines may provide useful benefits for the quite different offshore wind environment. Hence the 6- and 7-MW wind turbines. Simply look above at how a 7-MW wind turbine compares to an Airbus A380 with a wingspan of 80 meters to get an idea of how humungous these machines are.
*Full Disclosure: This post was supported by Siemens through Be On media. That said, I wouldn’t have covered it if I didn’t think it was worth covering, and nobody from Siemens or Be On had any influence over what I wrote above.
About the Author:
Zachary Shahan is the director of CleanTechnica, the most popular cleantech-focused website in the world, and Planetsave, a world-leading green and science news site. He has been covering green news of various sorts since 2008, and he has been especially focused on solar energy, electric vehicles, and wind energy for the past four years or so. Aside from his work on CleanTechnica and Planetsave, he's the Network Manager for their parent organization – Important Media – and he's the Owner/Founder of Solar Love, EV Obsession, and Bikocity. To connect with Zach on some of your favorite social networks, go to ZacharyShahan.com and click on the relevant buttons.
http://cleantechnica.com/2013/10/11/wind-power-awesomeness/#H9rCY8HX0DBMWMck.99
I, A. G. Gelbert, am convinced Zachary Shahan is a trustworty man of high integrity.
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October 23, 2013
Spain’s First Offshore Wind Turbine Inaugurated
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Gamesa G97 Model Wind Turbine
The first offshore wind turbine for wind energy company Gamesa and for the host-country Spain was inaugurated on Monday, in in Arinaga Quay (Gran Canary Island). The ceremony was attended by the President of the Canary Islands regional government, Paulino Rivero, the Minister for Industry, Energy and Tourism, José Manuel Soria, and the Chairman of Gamesa, Ignacio Martín.
The 5 MW 154 meter-tall turbine has a rotor diameter of 128 meters, sporting 62.5 meter-long blades, all combining to produce enough energy to supply 7,500 Canary Island homes with clean energy.
Gamesa is noticeably excited about their entrance into the offshore wind market, proclaiming that “Gamesa’s platform is set to become a benchmark in the sector thanks to the low cost of energy it offers customers.”
They were equally proud of the fact that the turbine parts were all made in Spain, noting however that “teams from all over the world participated in the product’s design and development phases”, including:
•The blades, each of which measures 62.5m long and weighs 15 tonnes, making them the longest ever produced and transported in Spain and among the longest in Europe, were made at the factory in Aoiz (Navarre)
•The nacelle, which measures over 12.5m long, 4m tall and 4m wide and weighs 72 tonnes, was made in Tauste (Zaragoza)
•The tower, which stretches nearly 90m high, was made by Windar (a joint venture between Gamesa and Daniel Alonso)
•The electric parts were made in Lerma (power train), Benissano (electric control cabinets), Coslada (converters) and Reinosa (generator)
Spain is one of the world’s largest wind energy producers in the world, and leveraging their extended coastline to further their dominant role in the industry will see enormous benefits for country and industry alike.
http://cleantechnica.com/2013/10/23/spains-first-offshore-wind-turbine-inaugurated/#jl04gKOJ0pumbj8W.99
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A New York Times article dated Nov. 22, 1936, quotes from a lecture titled “Discoveries and Inventions” Lincoln gave in 1860, before he became president. Here’s the relevant part:
(https://soberthinking.createaforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.historyplace.com%2Flincoln%2Flincpix%2Ftadbook2.jpg&hash=666744d82bfc414cc6059454295c9cc5116ea65c) “Of all the forces of nature, I should think the wind contains the largest amount of motive power … Take any given space of the earth’s surface, for instance, Illinois, and all the power exerted by all the men, beasts, running water and steam over and upon it shall not equal the 100th part of what is exerted by the blowing of the wind over and upon the same place.
And yet it has not, so far in the world’s history, become properly valued as motive power. It is applied extensively and advantageously to sail vessels in navigation. Add to this a few windmills and pumps and you have about all. As yet the wind is an untamed, unharnessed force, and quite possibly one of the greatest discoveries hereafter to be made will be the taming and harnessing of it.”
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(https://renewablerevolution.createaforum.com/gallery/renewablerevolution/3-191017143841.jpeg)Welcome to the Sober Thinking Forum. (https://www.createaforum.com/gallery/renewablerevolution/3-301014181908.gif)
This is the continuation of the Renewable Revolution Forum (https://renewablerevolution.createaforum.com/index.php), with the same categories and boards arrangement. In order to provide topic thread continuity, this post will be duplicated in frequently viewed topic threads along with selected posts from (https://www.createaforum.com/gallery/renewablerevolution/3-301014182234.gif) that topic (https://renewablerevolution.createaforum.com/renewables/wind-power/msg112/#msg112) at the Renewable Revolution Forum (https://renewablerevolution.createaforum.com/index.php). I will gradually, as time permits, copy pertinent articles posted there, update them, and post them here for your convenience.
I have no intention of closing the Renewable Revolution Forum (https://renewablerevolution.createaforum.com/index.php), so any links you have to posts, articles and graphics there are valid for the time being. Nevertheless, I advise you to 🦉 copy and save any posts, articles and graphics that you wish to preserve for posting somewhere else on the internet. I am 75 years old. As long as my spirit hasn't permanently left my body, the Sober Thinking Forum will be kept open. (https://renewablerevolution.createaforum.com/gallery/renewablerevolution/3-130418202709.png)
Although guests are encouraged to post and become members, this forum is mostly a library reference of important historical information and timeless articles that you are encouraged to pass on, with or without attribution.
In addition, relevant recent news will be posted almost daily, so be sure to 🧐 stop by often. (https://renewablerevolution.createaforum.com/gallery/renewablerevolution/3-250817121424.gif)
I have changed the title and the front page background graphic for two reasons:
1. My purpose, nearly a decade ago, of convincing most reality based people everywhere that human civilization, in order to stop and reverse (i.e getting back to 350 PPM of atmospheric Carbon Dioxide is sine qua non) the multiple extinctions causing biosphere degradation (i.e. the Sixth Mass Extinction Event now upon us), must VERY rapidly transition away from Hydrocarbon Energy Sources to Renewable Energy Sources, has been largely achieved. I have been one small voice among many that have made it clear that clean energy must be made available to everyone, not just the wealthy, if we are to survive Catastrophic Climate Change.
2. Celebrated social theorist and geographer David Harvey asked, "Is there a way to capture what (to the detriment of human civilization) is going on now"?
My answer: YES.
It's the SOCIAL DARWINISM, stupid!
"In human society, the amount of inequity is directly proportional to the amount of iniquity." -- A. G. Gelbert
No matter how much progress we make in cleaning up the biosphere, as long as the egocentric, morally bankrupt, empathy deficit disordered, Social Darwinist Ideology continues to be embraced by TPTB, we do not have a snowball's chance in Hell of surviving our Existential Crisis.
Social Darwinists believe that ethics based principles are 'limitations pretending to be virtues'. To them, ethics are 'feel good illusions' that humans invented to pretend our species has empathy. To Social Darwinists, empathy is irrefutable evidence of inexcusable weakness. To them, all who are guided by ethics are deluded fools that should be eliminated from the human 'apex predator' gene pool for the "good" of our species.
The ideology of the Social Darwinist is indistinguishable from the despicable ideology of NAZI Germany, clearly exemplified in their brutally enforced morally bankrupt concentration camp law: “Eat your own bread, and if you can, that of your neighbor.”
Social Darwinism is actually based, not on "survival of the fittest", but on fear of tomorrow, a morally bankrupt excuse for rejecting altruism and empathy and embracing a selfish greed dominated hoarding modus vivendi.
Every prudent man acts with knowledge, But a fool lays open his folly. -- Proverbs 13:16
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"One who fears tomorrow does not offer his bread to others. But one who is willing to divide his food with a stranger has already shown himself capable of fellowship and faith, the two things from which hope is born." -- Primo Levi, author of Survival in Auschwitz
Social Darwinism is the world view that spawned the profit over people and planet neoliberal ideology. Neoliberal intellectuals like Friedrich von Hayek, Ludwig von Mises and Milton Friedman were all Social Darwinists long before they renamed laissez-faire liberalism (that had been thoroughly discredited by the Great Depression) with the catchy title of "Neoliberalism".
The celebrated social theorist and geographer David Harvey explains that neoliberal ideology serves the following principle:
"There shall be no serious challenge to the absolute power of money to rule absolutely. And that power is to be exercised with one objective: Those possessed of money shall not only be privileged to accumulate wealth endlessly at will, but they shall have the right to inherit the earth, taking either direct or indirect dominion, not only of the land and all the resources and productive capacities that reside therein, but also assume absolute command, directly or indirectly, over the labor and creative capacities of all those others it needs. The rest of humanity shall be deemed disposable."
"In human society, the amount of inequity is directly proportional to the amount of iniquity." -- A. G. Gelbert
Sober Thinking requires that we all recognize the fact that a society that is founded on altruism, not the "invisible hand" of greed, is not optional if we wish to avoid exctinction. Capitalism's "invisible hand" modus operandi is rooted in the ideology of Social Darwinism.
“Capitalism is the astounding belief, that the most wickedest of men, will do the most wickedest of things for the greatest good of everyone.” — John Maynard Keynes
(https://www.createaforum.com/gallery/renewablerevolution/3-080814213147.png)
The main purpose of the Sober Thinking Forum is to convince you, regardless of your religious beliefs or lack of them, to soberly think about these two quotes, embrace altruism, reject greed, and convince as many people as you can that altruism is not optional for human society:
"Look at our world, our country, our interactions with each other……… this is not the mark of a healthy society, and if these are the self-appointed leaders of this flaming meteor…..it’s time to move on to new ideas and new people. Let’s relegate these fools to history. They perpetuate a narrative that it is right to behave in a strictly selfish, exploitative manner towards all. We simply can’t survive it any longer. Things will change because they have to." -- Kathleen Wallace
"Technical knowledge of Carrying Capacity will not save us; Only a Massive Increase in Caring Capacity will." -- A. G. Gelbert