Climate Wire | The Biden administration yesterday took steps to prepare states for a young and rapidly emerging type of floating offshore wind that some say could revolutionize renewables on the West Coast. announced the initiative.
Plans by the White House, Department of Energy and other federal agencies include a 20-month study of how to build a grid that will connect the West Coast grid to the first floating wind project of its kind. increase. The DOE-led study will receive $100 million in funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, federal officials said. The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory also released a major report evaluating how to build a floating offshore wind power grid on the West Coast, where deep water makes conventional offshore wind impossible.
“We are positioning ourselves not just to catch up and take the lead, but to really be at the forefront of new technologies,” said DOE and the Interiors, Commerce and Transportation Division.
The DOE also announced that California, which has the largest state-level target for floating wind, will become the first West Coast member of the seven-state National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium. According to the DOE, the state’s participation in the consortium will bring renewed focus to floating technology, especially how to reduce its cost.
Separately, California has established the Federal State Offshore Wind Farm, which consists of federal agencies and state authorities and seeks to facilitate manufacturing and workforce training for future offshore wind projects involving floating technology. He said he is participating in another initiative backed by Biden, known as the Adoption Partnership. California and Louisiana, which joined the partnership yesterday, bring the total number of state members to 13.
The administration’s move on floating wind came in tandem with other moves focused on traditional offshore wind.
Interior says it will conduct the first-ever offshore wind lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico, estimating it could bring enough energy to power 1.3 million homes.green wire,February 22).
DOE added that it is working with Sandia National Laboratories and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to develop a roadmap for operating and maintaining offshore wind projects. The roadmap states that it will identify knowledge gaps and technical solutions.
Floating turbines on platforms anchored to the deep seabed are attracting attention as an alternative to traditional offshore wind turbines whose foundations are directly buried in the seabed.
Experts say the floating design has various advantages.
According to the DOE, two-thirds of U.S. offshore wind resources are in deepwater regions, making conventional wind turbines not an option. This includes not only California, but almost the entire West Coast. Here the water depth begins to plummet not far from the shore.
However, no floating wind projects currently exist in the United States.
However, Europe and Asia are eyeing new projects. Last year, the global pipeline of new projects ballooned by more than 70% to 104 gigawatts, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. That amount is about the size of the US solar industry two years ago.
On the east coast, where turbines are already rising in shallow waters, some governors say second-generation floating projects could take advantage of stronger winds farther from the coast. . This is a factor that can help avoid opposition from coastal towns.
High cost, poor coordination
The state plan is in line with the Biden administration. Last September, the DOE said he wanted to cut the cost of floating offshore wind farms by 70% by 2035.E&E News PMSeptember 15, 2022).
Floating offshore wind targets aim to address multiple challenges that are holding back technology.
Jocelyn Brown-Saraceno, head of offshore wind in the DOE’s Office of Wind Energy Technology, said the port would need to be redeveloped into a staging ground, construction ships would need to be built, and there would be a need to supply parts for floating turbines. says it needs to set up a US-based factory. , during a virtual summit.
Another central issue for floating wind power, how to land turbine power, was explored in a report from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The report reveals gaps in federal scientists’ knowledge of how offshore wind transmission will be built on the West Coast.
Underwater transmission cables may need to extend up to 65 miles from shore, but few viable routes have yet been defined, PNNL said. Interstate coordination on the West Coast is not a priority, but may be “essential” for contagion, according to the report. Need work. The authors also conclude that local impacts, including concerns from other marine users, need to be factored into cost-benefit analyses.
Despite the challenges, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm called floating offshore wind “one of the most promising clean energy technologies of the 21st century” at the summit, pledging to achieve 100% carbon-free electricity by 2035. He added that it would allow the movement of countries towards
“Friday marks a year since Putin invaded Ukraine, creating a global energy system that will never again be manipulated by one leader, one dictator, or one country. We showed the world that there is a need,” she said.
Reporter Ann C. Malkan contributed.
This story also appeared energy wire.
Reprinted from E&E News with permission of POLITICO, LLC. Copyright 2023. E&E News provides essential news for energy and environmental professionals.
