WIND POWER
Floating Wind in the US Prospects and challenges by Dhirender Mishra
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ffshore wind is still at an early phase of growth in most countries worldwide. In 2020, around 35 GW of offshore wind capacity was installed globally. Most of this installation is in Europe and China (with Europe accounting for almost 70 percent of the total - including 28.9 percent in the UK - and China picking up the slack at 28.3 percent). In terms of installed capacity, fixed bottom projects have the lion’s share of global offshore wind projects globally (more than 99 percent). Floating wind projects account for just a fraction, with total installed capacity of only about 73.3 MW as of 2020; most of these are in Europe, including 32 MW capacity in the UK, 25 MW in Portugal, 2.3 MW in Norway, and 2 MW in France. Japan is another major country with 12 MW installed floating wind capacity. Other regions, including North America, have yet to install commercial floating offshore wind capacity on a large scale. Currently, just one commercial offshore wind energy farm is operational in the US (Block Island Wind Farm off the coast of Rhode Island). Offshore wind energy installed capacity totaled around 42 MW in 2020, compared to 122 GW of onshore wind energy installed capacity. However, the offshore wind segment is expected to record significant growth in the coming years, driven by both government-led initiatives and investments by energy companies. The US Departments of the Interior and Commerce have given approval for the first utility scale offshore wind project: Vineyard Wind 1, with a total installed capacity of 800 MW. According to the Department of Energy (DOE), offshore wind projects with capacity of more than 35 GW are in different stages of development.
US Floating Wind Industry
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Deep water offshore wind projects (floating wind turbines) are at a nascent stage in the US, with no commercial projects at present. Two floating wind turbine projects have been approved – Maine Aqua Ventus I with a capacity of 12 MW, and Mayflower
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Wind Floating Demonstration with a capacity of 10 MW. Maine Aqua Ventus I will be the first floating wind project to get commissioned by 2023. Five additional sites have been identified as potential locations for floating wind turbines: three in California and two in Hawaii. To facilitate the establishment and growth of floating wind turbines in the country, the Department of Energy has undertaken an investment of over $100 million on R&D related to floating offshore wind technology.
Technology trends
Many technologies have been developed and designed by companies for the platform of floating wind turbines. These include barges, spar-buoy, semi-spar, semi-submersibles, tension leg platforms (TLP), and multi-turbine/hybrid. Spar-buoy, semisubmersible platforms, and TLP are currently the most commonly used by companies. Alongside the technological development in platforms, the wind turbine technology is expected to advance significantly, paving the way for the scaling
