Deep-Ocean Wind Farms Could Produce Tons of Electricity

A group of investigators at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), in the United States, are currently engaged in a three-year effort of determining whether the construction of wind turbines in the deep-ocean, atop giant floating platforms, is a viable method of producing electricity. Strong winds blow at these locations, and they could help fuel a significant portion of the power demand users place on the national grid. But the ocean is a dangerous place, and costs associated with such projects are staggering. The WPI team is therefore in charge of finding out if it's all worth it.

The research will be conducted with a $300,000 grant, provided by the US National Science Foundations (NSF) over the next three years. It will have several aspects, including modeling a prospective wind farm platform to scale, and placing it in a large water tank for experiments. A number of computer models will also be created, that will attempt to simulate the influence of the various factors at play in the deep ocean on the physical platforms themselves. If the project is green-lit, then 26 US coastal states could benefit from vast amounts of energy produced from renewable sources.

“For wind to play a significant role in meeting the energy needs of the United States, two considerations must be accounted for. The energy must be generated close to where it is needed and it can only be generated where the wind blows steadily. In particular, energy is needed to power cities on the east and west coasts, and the wind blows most steadily off shore,” explains WPI associate professor of mechanical engineering, David J. Olinger, PhD. The expert is the co-principal investigator on the research, alongside the head of the WPI Mechanical Engineering Department, professor Gretar Tryggvason.

“Floating wind turbines, located far from land, would solve the environmental and aesthetic concerns associated with placing turbines near attractive natural beaches and coastal environments. They would be essentially invisible from shore while also being located in areas that provide greater wind power potential. Large sea areas, with stronger and steadier winds, are available for wind farm development,” Olinger reveals. According to a report released by the US Department of Energy (DOE) in 2008, the 28 US states that have coastlines consume about 80 percent of all the electricity produced in the nation.