Offshore Wind Power Line Wins Praise, and Backing

[babylonsister]

Offshore Wind Power Line Wins Praise, and Backing
By MATTHEW L. WALD
Published: October 12, 2010


WASHINGTON — Google and a New York financial firm have each agreed to invest heavily in a proposed $5 billion transmission backbone for future offshore wind farms along the Atlantic Seaboard that could ultimately transform the region’s electrical map.

The 350-mile underwater spine, which could remove some critical obstacles to wind power development, has stirred excitement among investors, government officials and environmentalists who have been briefed on it.

Google and Good Energies, an investment firm specializing in renewable energy, have each agreed to take 37.5 percent of the equity portion of the project. They are likely to bring in additional investors, which would reduce their stakes.

If they hold on to their stakes, that would come to an initial investment of about $200 million apiece in the first phase of construction alone, said Robert L. Mitchell, the chief executive of Trans-Elect, the Maryland-based transmission-line company that proposed the venture.

Marubeni, a Japanese trading company, has taken a 10 percent stake. Trans-Elect said it hoped to begin construction in 2013.

Several government officials praised the idea underlying the project as ingenious, while cautioning that they could not prejudge the specifics.

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/12/science/earth/12wind.html?_r=2&hp

[RKP5637]

1. To me, this sounds like really good news for a change. I would rather hear the

nation talking about things like this than this perpetual hatred spewed about by the RW politicians.

[txlibdem]

2. Google is taking a 37.5% stake in the offshore power line

The power distribution line will connect wind farms off the east coast.

will connect 6,000 megawatts of offshore wind turbines.

Google said on its official blog that the line can handle the equivalent of 60 percent of the wind energy that was installed in the entire country last year and enough to serve approximately 1.9 million households.

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2010/10/11/daily22.html

The largest wind turbine in the world is 7 Megawatts
http://www.metaefficient.com/news/new-record-worlds-largest-wind-turbine-7-megawatts.html

Norway is now building a 10 Megawatt wind turbine for offshore wind farm use that will be ready for installation in 2013.
http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/02/16/norway-to-build-the-worlds-largest-wind-turbine/

The interesting thing about it is that the 10 Megawatt is about the same size as the 7 Megawatt. The increase in energy output isn't due to size. "The new 10 MW turbine is not much larger than the current record holder, but due to advancements in technology and design it will be able to achieve a much higher power output. These advancements are due to reducing the weight as well as the number of moving parts."

There may be even more room for increases in wind turbine output. GE is improving their design:

The next gen wind turbine by GE will only be 4 MW, which isn't too big compared to the 10 MW turbine Norway is building, but it will have two significant design changes: a simpler and more efficient drive train as well as longer blades. A direct-drive mechanism will do away with the gear box, which is used to ramp up the RPMs to generate more electricity. Doing away with the gear box simplifies the system greatly, reducing need for maintenance and oil, both costly during the lifetime of the turbine. Additionally, permanent magnets will replace the electromagnets, which require starter brushes, coils and power from the grid every time the turbine starts up. The new drive train and generator are currently being tested in Norway.

Meanwhile the blades, which are being tested in the Netherlands, have been lengthened by 40%, and made even more aerodynamic and lightweight, all in order to capture more of wind.

http://inhabitat.com/2010/03/30/ge-next-gen-offshore-wind-turbine-is-25-more-efficient/

[kristopher]

3. This is probably a significant part of Schmidt's decision

A recent paper shows how this "grid" will provide stable power from wind.
Graph:


Abstract and link to read full article if you wish.
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2010/03/29/0909075107.abstract