Larger blades to cut offshore wind energy costs by a third!

18 Apr, 2011

ETI completes Helm Wind project designed to bring offshore wind costs in line with onshore technology...

Offshore wind turbines featuring larger blades and other design innovations could cut the cost of energy by a third, according to the results of a government and industry-backed study aimed at bringing the price of offshore wind in line with that of its onshore cousin.

The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) will today publish the results of its Helm Wind project, led by energy giant E.ON and aimed at delivering a new offshore wind farm designs capable of overcoming many of the maintenance difficulties associated with offshore wind projects, such as access and turbine reliability.

The study concluded that better technology could deliver cost savings of around 30 per cent compared to the current state-of-the-art offshore wind turbines. It also said there was potential for additional savings as technology is further developed.

The project, which also included Rolls-Royce, BP, and the University of Strathclyde, investigated ways of reducing the capital costs of offshore wind energy by 25 per cent and cutting operational costs by 50 per cent.

Commenting on the findings, ETI chief executive David Clarke, said the project had succeeded in showing that significant savings could be made.

He added that the study provided further evidence that the optimum turbine size for offshore wind farms is significantly larger than the current state-of-the-art machines being developed.

"This project's examined everything from the rotor diameter and speed, the number of blades, whether they should face upwind or downwind, drive-train options and support structures," he said. ¨

The results will now feed into the ETI's offshore wind strategy, which is expected to result in a new offshore turbine design being commissioned later this year.

By 'BusinessGreen' staff 18 Apr 2011