There have been ideas of floating solar panel islands in order to produce energy without having to take up too much land space. Now, we hear of another alternative energy solution, the floating wind turbines. These turbines have been operated by Scotland's Hywind since 2017.
Proving out the business case had until now deterred most companies. “The time needed to attain profitability is long, and the sums of money required are large, considering the uncertainty in the eventual market,” states the International Renewable Energy Agency. But Hywind Scotland, located 15 miles (24 km) from shore in 345 ft (105 m) of water, appears to have proven out the case.
Over a stormy three-month period from November 2018 to January 2019, the turbines survived extreme conditions while churning out 65% of their maximum capacity as a North Atlantic hurricane sent swells topping 27 ft.
This project which has become a business started 15 years ago. Today, they are the first floating wind farm in the world.
(Image credit: Joshua Bauer, National Renewable Energy Laboratory/US Department of Energy)