Offshore Wind Energy¤
Introduction¤
Offshore wind energy harnesses the power of wind above the seas and oceans to generate electricity. It capitalizes on the more consistent and stronger wind speeds over water compared to land. The technical aspects of offshore wind energy are distinct and sometimes more advanced than their onshore counterparts:
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Turbine Size and Height: Offshore wind turbines are typically larger than onshore ones. As of 2021, the most common offshore turbines being installed have capacities of 8-10 MW, though newer models can even exceed 12 MW. The rotor diameter of these turbines can be over 150 meters, and with hub heights of over 100 meters, these turbines can harness wind from higher altitudes where it’s more consistent.
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Foundation Types: Offshore wind turbines use various foundation types depending on water depth, including monopiles, gravity-based structures, floating platforms, and jacket foundations.
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Capacity Factor: Due to the consistency of oceanic winds, offshore wind farms generally have a higher capacity factor compared to onshore farms. While onshore wind farms have capacity factors typically in the 20-40% range, offshore wind farms can achieve 40-60%, meaning they produce electricity more consistently over time.
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Transmission: Transmitting the generated electricity to the grid on land requires undersea cables, which can be a significant part of the project’s costs. These cables need to be adequately insulated and protected from marine life and ship anchors.
Global Deployment¤
As of 2023, offshore wind has seen rapid growth, especially in regions like Europe and Asia. Europe has led the global deployment with countries like the UK, Denmark, and Germany installing significant capacities. China has also aggressively expanded its offshore wind installations. The global offshore wind capacity surpassed 64.3 GW in 2022, with projections to reach 380 GW by 2030, highlighting the increasing trust and investment in this technology.1
Use in Quebec and Canada¤
Quebec¤
As of 2021, Quebec has predominantly relied on its vast hydropower resources for electricity. However, there has been growing interest in diversifying its renewable energy portfolio, including looking into the potential for offshore wind. The St. Lawrence River presents a potential avenue for deployment. However, specific projects and detailed feasibility studies would be required to assess the exact potential and challenges, including environmental and socio-economic considerations. As of 2023, Quebec has not yet ventured into offshore wind projects.
Canada¤
Canada’s venture into offshore wind energy has been limited, but there’s potential, especially off the Atlantic coasts of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. The country has abundant wind resources, and while onshore wind has been the primary focus, offshore offers an opportunity to tap into stronger and more consistent winds. As of 2021, Canada does not have any large-scale offshore wind farms in operation, but some early-stage projects and studies are underway, signaling a potential shift towards embracing this technology in the coming years.4
The country’s first offshore wind project, the Wind Energy Institute of Canada (WEICan) Wind R&D Park in Prince Edward Island, commenced operations in 1981.2 Nevertheless, Canada boasts vast offshore wind potential along its coastlines, including the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic regions.
In a 2021 research assessment, the offshore wind energy potential for Canada was quantified at approximately 2,333 GW. This capacity is distributed across various maritime regions: the Atlantic Ocean encompasses the majority with an estimated 1,341 GW, the St. Lawrence Bay accounts for 280 GW, and the Hudson Bay contributes an additional 316 GW.3
Monthly production¤
The electricity production from windfarms reaches the peak in winter, while the output in summer is merely half of the maximal value approximately.
ES Model Parameters¤
All the parameters concerning the WIND_OFFSHORE are listed in the table below. Detailed information on the data is available in the section Parameters.
| entry_key | value | unit | sets | source_reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICITY_MV (layer) | 1 | - | USA | Prince, Ryan, (2023): "Block Island Wind" |
| RES_WIND_OFFSHORE (layer) | -1 | - | USA | Prince, Ryan, (2023): "Block Island Wind" |
| c_inv | 2350 | USD/kW | USA | Lorenczik, Stefan; Keppler, Jan Horst, (2020): "Projected Costs of Generating Electricity 2020 – Analysis" |
| c_inv | 2858 | USD/kW | OECD | IRENA, (2022): "Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2021" |
| c_maint | 99.5 | USD/kW/yr | OECD | IRENA, (2022): "Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2021" |
| c_p | 0.38 | - | OECD | IRENA, (2022): "Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2021" |
| c_p_t[10] | 0.506 | - | USA | Prince, Ryan, (2023): "Block Island Wind" |
| c_p_t[11] | 0.528 | - | USA | Prince, Ryan, (2023): "Block Island Wind" |
| c_p_t[12] | 0.554 | - | USA | Prince, Ryan, (2023): "Block Island Wind" |
| c_p_t[1] | 0.494 | - | USA | Prince, Ryan, (2023): "Block Island Wind" |
| c_p_t[2] | 0.532 | - | USA | Prince, Ryan, (2023): "Block Island Wind" |
| c_p_t[3] | 0.468 | - | USA | Prince, Ryan, (2023): "Block Island Wind" |
| c_p_t[4] | 0.354 | - | USA | Prince, Ryan, (2023): "Block Island Wind" |
| c_p_t[5] | 0.288 | - | USA | Prince, Ryan, (2023): "Block Island Wind" |
| c_p_t[6] | 0.254 | - | USA | Prince, Ryan, (2023): "Block Island Wind" |
| c_p_t[7] | 0.268 | - | USA | Prince, Ryan, (2023): "Block Island Wind" |
| c_p_t[8] | 0.336 | - | USA | Prince, Ryan, (2023): "Block Island Wind" |
| c_p_t[9] | 0.48 | - | USA | Prince, Ryan, (2023): "Block Island Wind" |
| f_max | 2179 | GW | QC | Dong, Cong; Huang, Guohe (Gordon); Cheng, Guanhui, (2021): "Offshore Wind Can Power Canada" |
| f_max | 2333 | GW | CAN | Dong, Cong; Huang, Guohe (Gordon); Cheng, Guanhui, (2021): "Offshore Wind Can Power Canada" |
| f_max | 9321 | GW | CAN | Willams, Rebecca; Zhao, Feng, (2023): "GWECs Global Offshore Wind Report 2023" |
| lifetime | 25 | yr | OECD | IRENA, (2022): "Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2021" |
| trl | 9 | - | OECD | IRENA, (2022): "Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2021" |
References¤
| Data Sources |
|---|
| Dong, Cong; Huang, Guohe (Gordon); Cheng, Guanhui. (2021). "Offshore Wind Can Power Canada". Energy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2021.121422 ⧉ |
| IRENA. (2022). "Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2021" |
| Lorenczik, Stefan; Keppler, Jan Horst. (2020). "Projected Costs of Generating Electricity 2020 – Analysis" |
| Prince, Ryan. (2023). "Block Island Wind". Block Island Wind |
| Willams, Rebecca; Zhao, Feng. (2023). "GWECs Global Offshore Wind Report 2023" |
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Global Wind Energy Council ( GWEC) - Global Offshore Wind Report 2023 ⧉ ↩
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Quebec Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources - facilities ⧉ ↩