This, however, is opening up more opportunities for the offshore wind industry, according to a new report by Frost & Sullivan.
Finding suitable sites for developing onshore wind farms will soon be difficult due to dense urbanization and the negative visual impact that wind farms could have on the surrounding environment.
This, however, is opening up more opportunities for the offshore wind industry, according to a new report by Frost & Sullivan.
In its research, market intelligence company Frost & Sullivan said increasing interest in offshore wind power is driving the development of new technologies, from the generators to wind turbine foundations.
«[A] technological trend is the scaling up of turbine capacity and the use of synchronous direct-drive generators, instead of asynchronous alternatives that require the use of gearboxes,» said research analyst Tomasz Kaminski of Frost & Sullivan’s Technical Insights research group.
«Gearless wind turbines offer enhanced reliability – an important factor in offshore projects where maintenance work represents significant costs.»
Offshore wind turbines use submarine cabling, with today’s turbines having high voltage alternating current cables. Yet according to Mr. Kaminski, they are becoming less economically attractive due to increasing transmission losses.
«Due to this, attention is being focused on high voltage direct current submarine cables,» said Mr. Kaminski.
Foundation solutions are also subject to innovation. Jacket foundations, which are sturdier than widely used mono piles, are being considered for projects 30 to 60 meters underwater. For projects deeper than 60 meters, one future solution is floating foundations.
«Frost & Sullivan research shows that the jacket foundation is in an ‘almost commercial’ phase of development, while the floating foundation still requires a few more years of research,» adds Mr. Kaminski. «Currently, only one prototype of wind turbine carried by floating foundation is in operation.»
The shortage of vessels and cranes for transporting components for wind farms are also being addressed, as well as ways to increase revenue like scaling up technology and building bigger turbines. – EcoSeed Staff
