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Feasibility of Offshore Wind Power in the South Atlantic Bight

Feasibility of Offshore Wind Power in the South Atlantic Bight. Bill Bulpitt, Susan Stewart, Mary Hallisey Hunt Georgia Tech Strategic Energy Institute Southeastern Energy Society November 20, 2006. Background. NSF Funded InfinitEnergy: A Coastal Georgia Partnership for Innovation

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Feasibility of Offshore Wind Power in the South Atlantic Bight

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  1. Feasibility of Offshore Wind Power in the South Atlantic Bight Bill Bulpitt, Susan Stewart, Mary Hallisey Hunt Georgia Tech Strategic Energy Institute Southeastern Energy Society November 20, 2006

  2. Background • NSF Funded InfinitEnergy: A Coastal Georgia Partnership for Innovation • Search for alternative energy options to stimulate economic opportunities for Coastal Georgia region. • Strategic energy technology assessments • Determine potential for implementation • Initial assessments of offshore wind potential in coastal Georgia merited further study • Approached local utility to perform a detailed conceptual design study for an offshore wind farm

  3. South Atlantic Bight Wind Resource • Bight definition: • Long gradual bend or recess in coastline forming large open bay. • Describes coastal ocean between South Carolina and Florida. • 140 km wide continental shelf • Off of Georgia’s coast alone: • < 20m deep: ~8,000 sq.km • < 30m deep: ~12,800 sq.km

  4. South Atlantic Bight Wind Resource(continued) • Rare offshore wind data available: • 50 m high anemometer • Online since June 1999 (nearly 7 years) • 27 m deep water, 60 km offshore • 6-minute data averages

  5. Savannah Light Tower R2 Tower Grays Reef Buoy

  6. R2 Tower Annual Average Wind Speeds

  7. Average Annual Wind Speed Comparisons at 50 m

  8. R2 Tower Monthly Average Wind Power Density (W/m2)

  9. Wind Farm Conceptual Design Study • Working with Southern Company on a detailed feasibility study of an offshore wind farm in Coastal Georgia. • Teams incorporating both entities working on project tasks. • Interaction with State, DOE,MMS, turbine vendors, and environmental organizations throughout study

  10. Update on Project Tasks • Wind Turbine Technology Review • Turbine Foundation and Platform Options • Selection of Offshore Sites/Interconnection Points • Submarine Cabling Requirements • South Atlantic Bight Benefits & Concerns • Environmental and other issues

  11. Wind Turbine Technology • 3 major offshore wind turbine vendors • Others have not “weatherized” products for this environment. • Visited vendors’ projects in Europe • Discussions with vendor sales reps

  12. Arklow

  13. Arklow

  14. Project Statistics • Turbines 3.6MW x 7 • Dept of piles 35-45m • Weight of piles 280tonne (5m diameter) • Weight of turbines 290tonne • Blades 50.5m, 15tonne each • Nacelle/Hub height 73.5M • Rotational speed 8.5 – 15 rpm • Distance offshore 10km • Onshore cable 5km • Voltage 38kV distribution connected • Rotor diameter 104m > soccer pitch area • 25MW serves 16,000 households (Irish) • Sandbank 24 miles long & 2.5 wide, depths 3 -20 m • Largest commercially operating turbines installed to date • Largest consented offshore site todate Source: McAdam

  15. Scroby Sands

  16. Scroby Sands Country: United KingdomLocation: East Anglian Coast, 3km east of Great YarmouthTotal Capacity: 60 MWNumber of Turbines: 30Distance to Shore: 2.5 kmDepth: 4-8 mCapital Costs: about 110 million EuroStatus: BuiltConstruction Date: 2003Manufacturer: VestasTotal Capacity: 2 MWTurbine-type: V80 - 80m diameter/ 60m hubheightMean Windspeed: 7.5 m/s Windfarm Developer: E.ON UK

  17. Horns Rev

  18. Horns Rev Country: DenmarkLocation: West CoastTotal Capacity: 160 MWNumber of Turbines: 80Distance to Shore: 14-20 kmDepth: 6-12 mCapital Costs: 270 million EuroStatus: Operational Construction Date: 2002 Manufacturer: VestasTotal Capacity: 2 MWTurbine-type: V80 - 80m diameter / 70m hubheightMean Windspeed: 9.7 m/sAnnual Energy output: 600 GWhWindfarm Developer: Elsam http://www.hornsrev.dk/Engelsk/default_ie.htm

  19. Wind Turbine Technology(continued) • Sellers Market • Demand for turbines high in Europe & Asia due to Kyoto Protocol and other promotional programs. • May be hard to obtain equipment for use in U.S. before 2008-2009. • Cost information difficult to acquire from vendors • They require a review in great detail of wind farm potential • PTC “on again – off again” history not helpful.

  20. Wind Turbine Technology(continued) • Selection of a unit depends on best economics (power output for the cost) for the given wind resource. • Power output calculated from vendor power curves using R2 data extrapolated to 80 m.

  21. Annual Capacity Factor Using Three Different Wind Turbines

  22. Turbine Foundation and Platform Options • From site visits, monopile support preferable • Steel tube 4-5 m diameter driven 15-30 m into ocean floor • Water depth < 20 m • Most expertise resides in Europe, as does the necessary equipment • R2 Tower wave characteristics: • Significant wave height = 1.16 m • Maximum wave height = 6.3 m

  23. Selection of Offshore Sites Interconnection Points • Geographical consistency of wind resource • Substation/landfall considerations: • Grid interconnection access points • Proximity to coast • Operating voltage • Expansion availability • Accessibility to beach for access • Shipping lanes • Cabling distance to shore • Cable landfall environmental impact

  24. Economics

  25. Submarine Cabling Requirements • Trench for cable: • Prepared with water jet • Sand settles over top after cable is laid • Depth of trench important to prevent damage from anchors and trawlers • Georgia specific: • Submerged barrier islands • Sand filled channels (former rivers) • Shifting sands

  26. South Atlantic BightBenefits & Concerns • Many benefits and concerns are more specific to South Atlantic Bight Region: • Environmental Issues • Migratory pathways and habitats for • Avian species • Right whales ( critical habitat – only known calving ground) • Sea turtles

  27. South Atlantic Bight Benefits & Concerns(continued) • (cont.) Environmental Issues • Warm weather • Lightning strikes • Hurricanes • Technology developments • Statistical studies

  28. South Atlantic Bight Benefits & Concerns(continued) • (cont.) Environmental Issues • Fisheries • May create an area closed to fishing • Could help increase fish populations • Hard bottom substrates • Could be extended via wind farm foundations and scour protection • Creating larger habitat for existing species.

  29. South Atlantic Bight Benefits & Concerns(continued) • Other Issues • Coexistence with military installations • Hydrography and coastal effects • Submerged barrier islands • Community acceptance • SocioEconomics • Viewshed • Unpopulated stretches of coastline

  30. Bringing ‘Offshore’ Wind Energy into the Mainstream • Need a pathway for development • Will vary by region due to different: • Wind Resources • Geography • Environmental Issues • Permitting Issues • Coastal population density

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