BBC NEWS
Floating wind turbine launched
By Jorn Madslien
Business reporter, BBC News

The world’s first floating wind turbine is to be towed out to sea this weekend.

Statoil’s Alexandra Beck Gjorv told the BBC the technology, the Hywind, to be put off Norway’s coast – “should help move offshore wind farms out of sight”.

And it could lead to offshore wind farms eventually being located many miles offshore, away from areas where they cause disruption, Ms Gjorv added.

This would benefit military radar operations, the shipping industry, fisheries, bird life and tourism.

“Taking wind turbines to sea presents new opportunities,” said Ms Gjorv, of Statoil’s new energy division.

“The wind is stronger and more consistent [and] areas are large.”

The Hywind, a 2.3 megawatt (MW) wind turbine built by Siemens, combines technologies from both the wind farming industry and the oil and gas sectors, and will be tested off the coast of Norway for two years.

In a similar way to how large parts of icebergs are hidden below the sea surface, the turbine has a 100 metre draft that is anchored to the seabed with cables, that can be up to 700 metres long.

Wealthy customers

# Floating wind turbine The floatation element stretches 100 metres below the sea surface
# It is anchored to the seabed in three places
# It can be moored in waters up to 700 metres deep

Offshore wind farms cost considerably more than wind farms on land, and initially floating ones will be more expensive than static offshore installations.

But over time, insisted Ms Gjorv, the floating turbines should not cost more than fixed ones.

Statoil plans to target markets where there is both an ability to pay as well as large and growing demand for energy, she added.

Floating wind farms could later be established off both coasts of North America and off the Iberian peninsula and the coasts of Norway and the United Kingdom, she said.

Floating wind farms could provide an additional source of energy for countries that have run out of space for their onshore wind farms, or where there is not enough wind on land, Ms Gjorv added.

“The global market for such turbines is potentially enormous, depending on how low we can press costs,” she said, though she was not able to quantify it or to outline a timescale for when floating wind farms would become commercially available.
Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/business/8085551.stm

Published: 2009/06/05 17:38:58 GMT

© BBC MMIX

Print Sponsor

Our #1 Pick For Earth 4 Energy

Click above banner for Our #1 Pick For Earth 4 Energy

For many, using home solar panels sounds unfeasible and futuristic. But more and more of today’s middle class urban families are starting to see how easy and accessible solar energy is. It is completely clean, green, and free to every person on earth. The only thing that is needed is a little bit of knowledge that can help you harness solar power for your own everyday use.

While you can purchase pre-made home solar panels, a lot of people are shocked to find out how simple it is to make and install your own. There are several instructional manuals, books and videos on the market which can teach you how to make solar panels and integrate them into your existing electrical system, but by far the best of the bunch is Energy By Earth which can be found on the author’s main website:

Energy By Earth will teach you how to make an entire solar energy system from scratch, including your own solar panels for less than $200. Since a system like this can save you hundreds of dollars each month, it is worth learning the principles behind solar energy.

Once you have your system in place, you will begin to see savings in your monthly energy costs almost immediately. In fact, many families have reported that they are able to actually earn money by generating more than they use. This is fed back through your city’s power grid—you can literally see the meters running backwards—and the power company pays for the surplus.

Energy By Earth is a complete guide to generating sustainable energy for your home or business. It is the simplest and most thorough book on the market today. In addition to teaching readers how to build solar panels, the book also provides detailed instructions for making a wind turbine; and it has a wealth of reference information that will help you build your overall knowledge of alternative energy.

Download Energy By Earth in electronic format immediately from the website:

and start making a difference in your home, your bank account, and the planet today!