Is the Offshore Wind Sector in Crisis?

100% wind and solar is coming!

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100% electrification from renewables like wind, solar, geothermal and hydro power, backed up with interconnections and energy storage is now just around the corner, and already the cheapest option available. But there are still bumps in the road. Can we overcome them in time?

True Cost of Offshore Wind Energy

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In the quest for clean energy, offshore wind stands out – not just for its towering turbines which are already as tall as the Eiffel tower and set to grow further, but offshore wind also stands out for its surprising economics. Despite being about twice as expensive as its onshore counterpart, offshore wind is riding a wave of rapid global expansion. What drives this surge in investment towards seemingly pricier energy? In this video we’ll navigate the depths of offshore wind. We’ll uncover the innovations making these titanic turbines possible, explore why their energy is more prized, and dive into the tumultuous waters of 2023 that nearly capsized the industry. Can offshore wind chart a course towards a more sustainable horizon? Let’s set sail to find out.

Bookmarks:
00:00 Intro
00:54 How do turbines need to be changed to suit offshore environment?
01:24 Different types of support structure for offshore environment
03:39 Size
04:58 Corrosion
05:29 Reliability
06:05 Advantages & Cost Offshore Wind
07:13 Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) of Offshore Wind
08:09 Offshore Wind in Denmark
09:27 Non-financial benefits of Offshore Wind
10:39 Value of Offshore Wind – Complementary Generation Profiles
11:21 Matching Generation with Demand
11:43 Offshore Wind in New York
12:08 Offshore Wind in Western Australia
12:51 Offshore Wind Crisis

Note: this is US data, in Europe the picture for the cost of offshore wind is, em, rosier.

[lazard.com] – 2023 Levelized Cost Of Energy+

China Opens 30 MW Wind Turbine Test Facility

While Sany has no immediate plans for a 30MW turbine, the new facility underscores China’s dominance in pushing the boundaries of wind turbine size. Chinese manufacturers are boldly pursuing both onshore and offshore turbines significantly larger than those currently planned by their Western counterparts.

[rechargenews.com] – China test for 30MW wind turbines as green power ‘arms race’ goes on
[interestingengineering.com] – China breaks new ground in wind power with new 30 MW turbines
[windmillstech.com] – China Sany Renewable Energy Unveils Groundbreaking Test Facility for Giant 30MW Wind Turbine Blades

Recycling Wind Turbine Blades

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Have you ever wondered how green wind energy really is, especially when you see those vast piles of wind turbine blades dumped in landfills? Social media posts with photos of wind turbine blades in landfill have raised this question, casting doubts on the sustainability of wind power. Is it actually horrible for the environment?

Today, we’ll examine why recycling wind turbine blades is such a challenge, focusing on the materials and manufacturing methods involved. Then, we’ll scrutinize the current recycling methods and discuss what needs to change for blades to be effectively recycled. We’ll also evaluate the efforts of wind turbine manufacturers and composite material suppliers towards this goal.

Bookmarks:
00:00 Intro
00:41 Wind turbine waste in context
02:12 Wind turbine blade structural design
05:09 Thermoplastics vs thermosets
06:24 Get 20% of Everything Electric Australia tickets
07:24 Repurposing wind turbine blades
08:06 Shredding
08:26 Cement co-processing
09:53 Thermoplastic wind turbine blades
10:57 Advanced recycling methods
13:42 Energy use and CO2 emissions from recycling
17:08 Outro

Modvion Wooden Wind Turbine

Wood is much lighter than steel and hence offers the potential for higher towers, tapping into higher wind speeds. And the carbon footprint is much smaller. The current highest tower is 100 m, a 130-170 m tower is planned for 2025.

[wattisduurzaam.nl] – Niet schrikken, deze Zweedse windmolen draait op biomassa
[modvion.com] – Modvion corporate site

How the Home Turbine Problem Was Solved

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Whenever I cover wind turbines many of you ask about what’s available for home applications. At the moment, I’ve got both good news and bad news. The bad news is that the current market for residential wind is…less than great. The good news? We have a lot of new innovations that look to improve it. The team behind the U.S.-based startup Harmony Turbines is hoping to popularize wind energy for the masses and allow them to have their iPhone moment. Plus, if you remember our video on Aeromine’s rooftop models from last year, we have an update on how its “motionless” design is progressing out in the real world. But of course, these are far and away from the only companies working on bringing wind power generation to our backyards. Residential wind has to have its moment someday, but when? Or should I say, “but wind?”

Alpha 311 Wind Generator Fits Anywhere

[cnn.com] – This small turbine can harness the power of passing cars
[alpha-311.com] – Corporate site

Airloom Unconventional Wind Turbine Design

[airloomenergy.com] – Corporate site
[newatlas.com] – Bill Gates backs novel device promising wind energy at 1/3 the cost
[techcrunch.com] – AirLoom has a plan to halve the cost of wind power

18 MW GE Turbines to be Used in Japanese Offshore Project

Size: 684 MW
Consortium: RWE, Mitsui, OSaka Gas
Commission date: 2029

[rwe.com] – RWE secures 684-megawatt project together with Mitsui and Osaka Gas in Japanese offshore wind auction
[rechargenews.com] – RWE biggest winner in Japan offshore wind round with plan to use 18MW GE turbines