Comments on: Why DOE-Funded Floating Turbines May Change Future of Offshore Wind

By: Floating Wind Farm Feasibility Study Launched in Cornwall (UK) - CleanTechnica

Floating Wind Farm Feasibility Study Launched in Cornwall (UK) - CleanTechnica — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:00:10 +0000

[…] Floating wind farms, from Fukushima to Malta to Portugal, are in the news more and more these days, but they’re still a relatively young technology and much needs to be done to better understand how to make them more efficient, more cost-effective, and more competitive with onshore or non-floating offshore wind farms. I know we’ve got at least one reader who is highly critical of current designs. We’ll see where this project leads and keep you updated as the news rolls in. […]

By: Zachary Shahan

Zachary Shahan — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 20:59:00 +0000

” Your skepticism over ‘different’ ideas ” — see, this is where i think you got lost. I’m ALL FOR new, innovative ideas — I write about them regularly and encourage writers here to cover them regularly. I think you’re picking a battle with someone who is not battling you

By: Zachary Shahan

Zachary Shahan — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 15:38:00 +0000

Sorry, I was referring to offshore wind turbines in general (seems you didn’t catch that) — thought that’s what we were discussing. As far as areas where they need to be floating, I’m well aware that the best technology for those areas hasn’t been found yet.

But, really, you’re throwing a lot of comments in here criticizing researchers working in this area (and myself) and it’s not clear why… unless it’s just that you have a concept you can’t get funding for..?

Happy New Year!!

By: Zachary Shahan

Zachary Shahan — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 13:27:00 +0000

Dave2020, not sure why you are calling me a negative thinker. As I’ve pointed out, yes, I think we need to keep improving and coming up with better technologies. Perhaps you are right that there are better options out there already, but I assume that every country in the world pursuing offshore wind is pursuing HAWTs for a reason, Not to say they are the best concept or best option forever, but for deployment at the moment, I don’t think they are all pursuing this one technology purely out of ignorance and narrow-mindedness.

Again, when it comes to the intermittency issue, i’m just pointing out that this is not an issue limiting wind deployment today (..positive thinking).

But, again, I think we need to keep pursuing better technologies and am all for the testing, deployment of your technology if it trumps HAWTs!

Good luck with your technology!

By: Zachary Shahan

Zachary Shahan — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:40:00 +0000

Dave2020: thanks for your comments.

We certainly need to keep pursuing better and better technologies. That said, nothing competes with the HAWTs we have going up these days yet.
Wind intermittency isn’t as big a deal as some make it out to be. http://cleantechnica.com/world-wind-power/6/ Some places have very high amounts of wind installed (e.g. Iowa, Denmark) and are doing quite fine with it.

But, yeah, continued innovation is a must! (in nearly any industry) Cell phones were ready for mass use about 10 years ago, but they’ve changed a lot since then!

By: EU Considers Tightening Caps as Carbon Price Collapses

EU Considers Tightening Caps as Carbon Price Collapses — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 02:45:32 +0000

[…] offshore wind industry. (Previous story: 141 GW of European Offshore Wind Under Way.)(Related: Why DOE-Funded Floating Turbines May Change Future of Off Shore Wind.)The other option is to retire carbon permits, an option that was built into the original […]

By: Susan Kraemer

Susan Kraemer — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 22:19:00 +0000

Positive thinkers today – Such a rare blessing!

By: Susan Kraemer

Susan Kraemer — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 22:18:00 +0000

Great thought, thanks

By: Susan Kraemer

Susan Kraemer — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 22:18:00 +0000

Interesting idea

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 19:22:00 +0000

I’ve always figured that they’d be a good spot for remote weather sensors and emergency radio relays.

Thereby helping both with emergency assistance for boats/ships/aircraft as well as helping to provide meteorologists with more real-time weather data for analysis/forecasting.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 17:27:00 +0000

Seems like manufacturing and assembly will be much easier as these floaters can be finished up in harbors and then towed into place. No floating cranes, etc. No lost work days because the waves are up. No time spent ferrying work crews offshore.

There might not even be a need to pour concrete offshore. Barges and cranes can deliver mooring blocks and lower them to the seafloor. Then tow the floater out and hook it up.

Getting turbines further offshore generally means steadier winds and likely means less NIMBY resistance.

We’ve got good offshore wind potential off the Southeast Coast, an area that doesn’t have much good onshore wind. And we’ve got tremendous offshore potential along the Pacific Northwest Coast.

Offshore wind farms should be very beneficial for sea life. They will create areas that won’t be over fished by commercial operations. They should create some badly needed aquatic nurseries where species can breed and grow largely undisturbed.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 16:59:00 +0000

Perhaps. But I suspect the best wind is going to be some distance offshore and the best wave action closer in.

At least that’s what a few years of blue water sailing taught me.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 16:33:00 +0000

Eventually someone will figure out that you can add a wave turbine to the base of the unit. . .