Graham

We are all familiar with onshore and offshore wind turbines, but what about turbines that are offshore but not under water?

Statoil successfully designed and installed the first ever floating turbine off the west coast of Norway in 2009 and in less than two years the turbine, referred to as Hywind, generated more than 15 MWh of electricity. A leading company in oil and gas production, Statoil claim they want to put technology through its paces and the UK’s Crown Estate has given the go-ahead to build five floating wind turbines off the coast of Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Offshore wind is already very popular in Europe, both because it harnesses the natural power of the wind and because the visual impact is less significant. Currently, offshore wind turbines can be installed in a maximum water depth of 60 metres as the supportive pylons need to be drilled into the sea bed. In contrast, the new style floating turbines are anchored to the seabed using cables meaning they can be installed in water as deep as 700 metres.

The capacity for wind power out to sea is much greater because the wind flow is undisturbed by topographic features that can be a problem inland. Investors have been hesitant to offer support for these projects as the initial costs are so high, however engineers promise that expenses will diminish as experience is gained and the right design principles are used.

The continued evolution of renewable technology and the enthusiasm it receives offers an optimistic outlook for the wind power industry. Fine Energy are focused on working with internationally renowned manufacturers of wind turbines to select the best turbine for the site, and to make wind work for you.

SmartestEnergy have produced a report which discusses the rapid pace of growth of the renewable energy sector. The Energy Entrepreneurs Report 2014 discusses different renewable technologies including Hydro and Solar PV, however we wanted to draw focus to the incredible advancements wind energy has made in the last 12 months. Despite a background of political cynicism and constrained funding, onshore wind has seen a 40 per cent increase in capacity and now accounts for 45 per cent of independent generation. With a capacity of 2.8 GW, onshore wind remains the most dominant technology across Great Britain.

Yorkshire, Devonshire and Aberdeen were the most active in terms of new onshore projects with the farming sector remaining the most active investor in commercial scale renewables. The number of farm owned turbines almost doubled with 179 new designs becoming fully operational. This is particularly significant for Fine Energy as we offer competitive land based rental to landowners in the UK, of whom a large proportion are farmers.

Farmers and landowners are increasingly looking to diversify their income as the result of poor weather conditions, rising feed costs and competition from imported produce has seen incomes fall by more than half. Whilst local councils are encouraging farmer’s markets in the effort to ensure British food is consumed locally, multigeneration farmers are desperately seeking financial support. Recognizing the importance of creating lasting economic opportunities rooted in agriculture is vital for preserving an agricultural market in the UK. Installing one wind turbine on a small portion of land gives landowners a guaranteed annual rental income for 20 years. Whether the money is used to order cattle feed or fix equipment, this additional income offers farmers the breathing space they deserve.

Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy of the wind into electricity, a successful method of producing renewable energy, and it appears that the technology has inspired engineers to develop alternative ways of producing electricity in the UK. Sea Generation Ltd is to launch Wales’s first commercial tidal energy farm in 2016. The electricity generators will operate like wind turbines but with blades driven by tidal wave action instead of wind.

The turbines will be installed and operated for up to 25 years, where they will serve as a test case for the development of tidal technology. The Crown Estate said that leasing the sites for technology development was “critical” for the UK to unlock the potential of wave and tidal energy. First Minister Carwyn Jones said the benefits to the economy could be significant.

It has been estimated that the potential energy generated by the Anglesey Skerries Tidal Array project is equivalent to three or four nuclear power stations. The advantages of tidal power include zero carbon electricity generation and the predictability of tidal currents. Concerns have been expressed regarding the environmental impacts. In response Sea Generation commissioned an Environmental Impact Assessment and established an environmental monitoring programme to bridge any knowledge gaps.There are already huge ambitions for this energy sector and this announcement is a step in the right direction for the development of wave and tidal stream industries.

http://http://www.seagenwales.co.uk/

Consent for the proposal of Scotland’s largest onshore wind farm was granted by Scottish Ministers in 2007 after the proposal promised to support more than 150 jobs and to provide enough electricity to power 73,000 homes. Seven years later and Harestanes has been officially opened by Energy Minister Fergus Ewing. Scottish Power Renewables (SPR) is behind the 68 turbine scheme which cost £160m – and they are not stopping there! SPR are keen to take advantage of the excellent wind resource in the area and an application for an additional seven turbines was submitted in November 2013 which aims to increase the operational efficiency of the existing wind farm. Ewing has applauded the project and said the wind farm could help meet Scotland’s 100% renewable energy target.

The construction has delivered a range of benefits including a new turbine technician course at Dumfries and Galloway College which should provide future career opportunities for young people in the area.Undoubtedly a lot of effort goes into the construction of these large onshore wind farms and the benefits to the local community are significant. Scotland is famed for its impressive wind resource and the support offered by Scottish Ministers will ensure wind projects like this reach their full potential.

Furthermore, it is refreshing to see plans for Harestanes to be used recreationally by members of the public. New paths have been developed to attract walkers, cyclists, joggers and even fans of wind farms, and the Forestry Commission Scotland and SPR have been working together to deliver a new specially designed mountain bike track. Maybe renewable energy projects can be fun for the community after all?

http://http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-28096573

The UK Green Investment Bank (GIB) are looking for co-investors to help raise £1 billion towards offshore wind farm projects in Britain. The bank received criticism when they revealed a £5.7m headline loss but Chief executive Shan Kingsbury said this was “somewhat misleading” because a number of projects are still under construction.

The Scotland-based bank was set up in 2012 and has committed a total of £1.3 billion to projects already. GIB announced 24 June 2014 that it was launching a fund for long-term investors to purchase equity stakes in already-operational offshore wind farm projects. This approach will encourage investors to buy shares in renewable energy projects that have previously been considered too risky. GIB want to do more to maximise their green impact and plan to extend their reach into new markets like community-scale renewables.

Community owned renewable energy projects can mean people benefiting in real and financial terms from the provision of their own energy. Allowing communities to generate their own energy is a better option than subsidising unsustainable fuel consumption. This is certainly a step in the right direction and we look forward to hearing more about GIB’s community based renewable energy projects.

http://http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jun/24/green-investment-bank-launch-offshore-wind-farms-fund