kimerajamm
Joined: 28 Nov 2010
Posts: 785
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 Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 12:37 pm Post subject: Offshore Renewables |
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Wind power is a renewable technology and produces no greenhouse gases during operation, although inevitably some are produced during construction and transport. The precise amounts involved are a matter of controversy. Manufacturers typically state that carbon emissions are 'paid back' within 3–18 months of production, but recent research claims that turbines located on peat bogs create incidental emissions that may increase this to 8 years or more.[22]
Wind turbines are the fastest growing of the renewable energy technologies in Scotland. Most turbines in the EU produce electricity at an average of 25% of their rated maximum power due to the intermittency of wind resources,[23] but Scotland's wind regime provides average of 40% or higher on the west and northern coasts. A small wind farm on Shetland with five Vestas V47 660 kW turbines recently achieved a world record of 58% capacity over the course of a year.[24]
There are now numerous large on-shore power stations including Black Law Wind Farm rated at over 96 MW, Hadyard Hill Wind Farm, which is the first wind farm in the UK able to generate over 100 MW, and Whitelee Wind Farm, a 322 MW project that is the largest onshore wind farm in Europe.[25][26][27][28] Nevertheless the siting of turbines has become a controversial issue amongst those concerned about the value of natural landscapes.[29]
It is estimated that 11.5 GW of onshore wind potential exists, enough to provide 45 TWh of energy. More than double this amount exists on offshore sites[2] where mean wind speeds are greater than on land.[30] The total offshore potential is estimated at 25 GW, which although more expensive to install, could be enough to provide almost half the total energy used in Scotland.[2] The first offshore turbines are operated by Talisman Energy, who have erected two large machines 25 kilometres (13 nmi) offshore adjacent to the Beatrice oilfield. These turbines are 88 metres (289 ft) high with the blades 63 metres (207 ft) long and have a capacity of 5 MW each, making them amongst the largest in the world.[31][32]
Plans to harness up to 4.8 GW of the potential in the inner Moray Firth and Firth of Forth were announced in January 2010. Moray Offshore Renewables and SeaGreen Wind Energy were awarded development contracts by the Crown Estate as part of a UK-wide initiative.[33][34] Also in 2010, discussions were held between the Scottish Government and Statoil of Norway with a view to developing a 5-turbine floating windfarm, possibly to be located off Fraserburgh.chlorinator cells
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