ALTERNATIVE WIND ENERGY
REDESIGNED WIND ENERGY
While people still yell ‘NIMBY!’ when it comes to wind turbines, a more efficient, less obtrusive option is on the horizon. If you thought I was going to say off-shore windfarms, you’d be close, but still half an ocean away. Starting to get the picture?
The best, most sustained winds – about 80% - are in the middle of our seas. Imagine the mega power they offer. Now imagine trying to use fixed-foundation designs in deep water. Not going to happen.
Floating wind. What a great way to describe the technology the Norwegian company, World Wide Wind is developing. It’s off and running with support from the engineering firm AF Gruppen, which will test the first prototype at their yard at Vats on the Vatsfjorgen.
Far from a propellor on a stick design, these striking turbines are aimed at harvesting the most wind power while being less expensive to build, weighing 30% less, having increased energy density and fewer impacts on the environment and wildlife, and the ability to scale to incredible energy generation.
And they float.
CEO Björn Simonsen states that offshore floating wind is poised to be “a significant contributor to the global renewable energy mix,” but needs an entirely new design.
The moving parts here are a contra-rotating, vertical-axis turbine that rises 62 feet (19 meters).
WWW’s design allows for scaling up to 40mW, compared to 2.5 to 3mW for a conventional off-shore turbine, because of a simple, yet ingenious change to a bottom-heavy setup. So, going bigger means more stability, not threatening to tip over.
Its generator, rotor, and stator are at the very bottom, well underwater, where it also provides ballast. Only mooring anchors are required. A pontoon floats at the surface, allowing two turbines, with fixed blades, to bob around and harvest torque from the wind, like a sailboat.
That means the whole thing passively tilts to the best angle to capture the wind. Its turbines rotate in opposite directions, doubling the speed at which the rotor turns the stator.
Inspired by nature, the design is perceived by birds as a natural obstacle and the low speed at the blade tip prevents bird strikes. It also reduces the wake effect, so turbines can be placed closer together.
WWW is aiming at partnerships that create local economies and simplify the supply chain. The design also incorporates recycled materials.
All of that adds up to a major, potential reduction of the Levelized Cost of Energy for offshore wind, to less than half of targets set for horizontal-axis towers. WWW is planning for a commercial launch before the end of this decade.
When we see a new level of innovation like this, ‘Wow!’ is a good initial reaction.
Are we thinking, good for them?
It’s time to start thinking, good for us. Good for the planet.
What can the rest of us do to support you?
