Image by Chuyu from Getty Images Pro
Offshore wind farms are rapidly gaining popularity as a viable source of clean, renewable energy. These large-scale wind power facilities are situated in the ocean, typically several kilometers offshore, where wind speeds are generally stronger and more consistent than on land. They consist of clusters of wind turbines that are erected on fixed or floating foundations and connected to an offshore substation that gathers and distributes the electricity generated by the turbines.
Advantages of Offshore Wind Farms
The advantages of offshore wind farms are many. For one, they can harness wind energy on a large scale and generate electricity for entire communities. The turbines are typically larger than their onshore counterparts, with capacities ranging from 6MW to over 12MW, and are arranged in arrays of 20 to 200 or more. These clusters can produce enough electricity to power hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses.
Offshore wind farms also have the advantage of being located closer to population centers, reducing the need for long-distance transmission lines that are costly and can be vulnerable to power outages. They can also operate without consuming any valuable land or water resources, as they are situated in the ocean. This is a significant benefit in densely populated countries like the Netherlands, where land is scarce and there is limited space for onshore wind farms.
In addition, offshore wind farms can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change. They are a clean, renewable energy source that does not produce any harmful pollutants or greenhouse gases during operation. As countries around the world strive to reduce their carbon footprint and meet their emissions reduction targets, offshore wind power is becoming an increasingly important part of the solution.
Bosch PPA With EnBW
EnBW’s 900MW He Dreiht offshore wind farm, located in the German North Sea, is set to supply German engineering and technology company Bosch with 200GWh/yr through a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA) starting in 2026. EnBW expects to make a final investment decision on the wind farm in Q1 2023, with the project scheduled to begin operations by the end of 2025. The PPA with Bosch marks the fourth agreement for EnBW, which has previously signed PPAs with Frankfurt Airport for 85MW, Evonik for 150MW, and Salzgitter for 50MW. Vestas has conditionally agreed to supply its V236-15.0MW turbines for the project, according to Killian Staines of Windpowermonthly.com.
Information Sourced From:
