La wind power It is, without a doubt, one of the main sources of renewable energy worldwide. Its growth has been exponential in recent decades, thanks to continuous technological advances and investment in innovation by large multinationals. In particular, the offshore wind turbines (located offshore) have played a key role in increasing energy generation capacity.
According to the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), global installed wind power capacity increased by 12,4% in 2016, reaching the 486.749 MWThe main producers of this clean energy are China, the United States, Germany, India and Spain, countries that see wind energy as a way out of dependence on fossil fuels.
Recent advances in offshore wind energy
One of the most recent milestones in this field has been achieved by the company MHI Vestas Offshore, a Vestas-Mitsubishi alliance. They have developed a 9 MW offshore wind turbine prototype, capable of generating 216.000 kWh in just 24 hours, enough to power a home in the United States for two decades. This technological advance has become a benchmark within the sector.
This new wind turbine is designed to operate in wind conditions between 12 and 25 metres per second, making it a viable option for regions with intense offshore winds. This prototype was installed off the Danish coast and has proven to be capable of generating energy on a large scale, thus reducing the costs of offshore wind energy.
Implications of the energy generated
To put the impact of this innovative wind turbine into perspective, it is useful to compare it with the usual energy consumption. According to official data, the average electricity consumption of a household in Spain is approximately 3.250 kWh per year. This implies that a single day of operation of this wind turbine could provide electricity for a medium-sized home for more than 66 years, which highlights the magnitude of this progress.
The wind turbine also stands out for its gigantic dimensions: it measures approximately Meters 220, with blades measuring 83 metres long and weighing more than 38 tonnes. These features make its capacity to harness the wind superior to that of previous models, such as the 8 MW wind turbine previously developed by Siemens.
Advantages of offshore wind turbines
Offshore wind energy, particularly that based on floating platforms, offers a number of key advantages. Firstly, these turbines can be installed in deeper waters, where winds are stronger and more consistent, significantly increasing energy output compared to turbines installed on land or on fixed platforms. Furthermore, the ability of these turbines to operate in areas far from the coast reduces their visual and environmental impact compared to onshore wind farms.
The development of floating platforms (also known as FOWP, Floating Offshore Wind Platform) is remarkable. These floating structures allow the installation of wind turbines in deep waters, where fixed foundations are not viable. This technology is advancing rapidly, and floating offshore wind energy is expected to play a crucial role in obtaining clean energy in the future.
- Barge: Boat-like platform, with a lot of contact with the water, which gives it stability.
- Semi-submersible: The aim is to reduce the surface area exposed to water with floating cylinders.
- Save: Another type of platform, with a heavy weight on the bottom to maintain stability.
Challenges and expectations of offshore wind energy development
Despite the progress made, offshore wind energy still faces several challenges. For example, floating platform technology, although promising, is less mature than other technologies such as onshore wind or solar, which implies higher development costs and higher technological risk. However, in the coming years, with more pre-commercial projects in development, the costs of floating wind energy are expected to decrease, making this technology more viable and accessible.
There is currently a great deal of interest from the market, especially in Europe, where significant investments are being made in infrastructure for the production of offshore wind energy. European Union has committed much of the economic recovery funds to finance projects such as the recent wind farm NordeWind 3 in the North SeaThis project features floating turbines and has a generating capacity of 3 GW, enough to supply more than two million homes.
With the continued growth of floating wind technology and investments in renewable energy, offshore wind energy production is expected to reach unprecedented levels in the coming decades.
Offshore wind energy is emerging as a key part of the global energy transition towards a decarbonised economy. While technical and economic challenges remain, current developments in floating platforms, the use of deepwater wind energy, and the support of European and private institutions will ensure that records continue to be broken in terms of generation capacity and cost reduction.