What is offshore wind energy?
Also called blue energy is another type of renewable and non-polluting energy extremely similar to onshore wind energy but using the force of the offshore wind, which has greater power and constancy.
Logically, these marine parks cannot be found in very deep sea areas, as this would greatly increase the costs of works and infrastructures. They are usually located in large shallow areas (60 meters) that make installation easier and cheaper.
Its location is also usually far from the coast, military naval bases, protected areas due to their geological interest, and marine traffic routes.
Offshore wind energy production in Asia is still not very developed. The commercial phase has not yet been reached as the facilities are in the prototype phase.
Due to the typology of its coasts and its borders, India is a country with enormous offshore wind potential. It has more than 7,516.6 km of coastline with large wind resources. A technological plan is currently being developed to settle the mills on consistent floating platforms so as not to have to anchor them to the sea floor. This is a much cheaper solution, which also affects the marine ecosystem less.
There is an intention to approve the Strategy for Offshore Wind and Energy from the Sea in a few years to develop a technological plan that converts the energy consumption of our country into a much more sustainable and renewable system. This plan contemplates equalizing the offshore wind farm with the land one.
The short-term plan evaluates the possibility of registering a production of between 1,000 and 3,000 MW of offshore wind energy.
Onshore and offshore wind energy: differences
Futureon elaborates on a few technological differences regarding the system for converting the kinetic energy of the wind into electrical energy. The main one is located at the base, anchored to the seabed instead of the land.
There are also differences in the difficulties and costs of installation, construction, and maintenance of these offshore wind farms.
Another big difference is the greater productivity of marine parks compared to terrestrial ones. It is estimated that at sea the impact of the wind is between 30% and 50% greater than on land.
Advantages and disadvantages of offshore wind power
Offshore wind energy has the great advantage of not having natural barriers such as mountains, hills, or cities around it. Thanks to this, the impact of the wind is much more constant and powerful, producing more energy in the windmills.
Its main advantages are:
The type of energy continues to be renewable and non-polluting, drinking from an inexhaustible source of energy such as the wind.
Greater resources in an offshore wind farm than in an onshore one
Less visual and acoustic impact than in land parks
The greater power of the wind turbines of the marine installations due to the ease of transporting the energy
The big disadvantage is the need for further technological development. Especially for a cheaper implementation. Being precisely the price is another of its biggest drawbacks.
Starting up an installation or park to take advantage of this type of energy is today really expensive and requires a high degree of specialization.
