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Wind industry heads for deeper waters
Lunes, 12 de diciembre de 2011REM
The offshore wind industry took another step towards conquering the oceans last month, when Principle Power, Inc. and Energias de Portugal (EDP) successfully deployed a full-scale 2-megawatt (MW) floating wind turbine off the Portuguese coast.
The WindFloat turbine was installed by Principle Power, a US technology developer based in Seattle, and EDP off the coast of Aguçadoura (Portugal), and has been described by Principle Power as “the beginning of a new sector in the offshore wind industry”.
It is the result of the on-going work of the partners of the WindPlus joint venture including: EDP, Principle Power, A. Silva Matos, Vestas Wind Systems A/S, InovCapital, and Fundo de Apoio à Inovação. In addition over 60 other European vendors participated.
According to Principle Power, the project is the first offshore wind deployment worldwide which did not require the use of any heavy lift equipment offshore. All final assembly, installation and pre-commissioning of the wind turbine occurred on land in a controlled environment. Further, this is the first offshore wind turbine in open Atlantic waters, and the first deployment of a semi-submersible structure supporting a multi-megawatt wind turbine.
Following pre-commissioning of the system onshore at the Lisnave facility near Setubal (Portugal), the WindFloat was loaded using a dry-dock and towed offshore some 350 kilometres into open Atlantic waters. “The ability to tow in such conditions is attributable to the same WindFloat stability performance that permits the use of off-the-shelf commercial wind turbines from any manufacturer;” said Principle Power.
Since it was moored in position, the WindFloat has been undergoing rigorous commissioning, testing and start-up procedures, including trial operations and a phased ramp-up in power production to full capacity.
"This is an historic moment that takes your breath away," said Alla Weinstein, CEO of Principle Power. "In a way we are making a similar leap towards new energy resources as the Oil & Gas industry did in the 1970's when it began using floating structures. Further, we have proven the capabilities of the Portuguese maritime industry to adapt and provide the necessary resources to successfully fabricate and deploy an offshore structure of this scale. We look forward to future business and success in this and global offshore wind markets with our innovative WindFloat."
Despite the best wind resources being found way off shore, where environmental and visual impacts can also be reduced, to date it has not been possible to install wind turbines at depths of more than 50 metres, due to economic and technological limitations. Now however, floating platforms such as WindFloat provide for siting of offshore wind turbines at greater water depths, thus enabling the industry to expand its operational area considerably.
"The (deep) ocean is the next big energy frontier," said António Vidigal, CEO of EDP Inovação. "Deep offshore wind technology, in particular the WindFloat, will allow us to harness stronger and more stable winds, and in the medium term deliver sustainable energy into our electrical system. Now is the time for extensive testing and validation, moving forward in the development of this promising technology. The WindFloat positions EDP on the leading edge of offshore wind exploration."
As well as being involved in the WindFloat project, EDP is also developing Europe's largest hydro generation project and is currently the third largest wind developer in the world. For the second year in a row, EDP has been elected as the number 1 electric utility in the world according to Dow Jones Sustainability Index.
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