Introduction to offshore wind
Our future energy supply faces numerous challenges and has become subject to unstable international conditions. To meet these challenges offshore wind has a key role to play. The Irish Government has set a target for 40% of electricity consumption to come from renewable energy by 2020. To meet this target, the Commission for Energy Regulation has stated, will require the installation of approximately 5,800 MW of renewables between now and 2020, the majority of which is expected to come from wind. Offshore wind is the key to achieving this target as it is the only renewable energy source in Ireland with the capacity to meet these ambitious targets. Reaching these 2020 goals will help reduce our greenhouse gas emissions thus helping to combat global warming and will reduce our dependence on imported coal, oil and gas.
Why Offshore
There are various reasons why the development and construction of offshore wind farms have and will continue to occur up to and beyond the 2020 time horizon.
Wide Open Space
Many parts of the Ireland are densely populated and the necessary space for large wind power solutions is unavailable. This is particularly evident close to the energy demand centers along Irelands East Coast. With environmental and aesthetic issues preventing the establishment of onshore wind power facilities in populated natural areas offshore wind can mitigate and provide a clean and sustainable source of energy.
Stronger Winds
The shallow seas along the coastline of Ireland are obvious locations for offshore wind farms. In particular, the wind in the Irish Sea is not disrupted by hills or buildings, and blows more predictably and less turbulently than on land. The wind offshore is stronger and more consistent thus providing higher turbine utilization rates and increased long term national security of supply. Offshore wind turbines generate power 70% to 90% of the time.
There is sufficient space in Irish waters to allow offshore wind farms develop and provide a reliable source of energy without impacting on other stakeholders who use our waters.
Economies of Scale
It is well known that constructing wind farms offshore is one and a half to twice as expensive as onshore wind farm development. However the wind conditions at sea often offset these extra costs during the lifetime of the project due to the higher more consistent winds found offshore.
Currently there are 33 offshore wind farms in operation worldwide.
By the end of 2008, a total of almost 1,471 MW of offshore wind farms was in operation around Europe, in the coastal waters of Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium and Finland, representing around 2% of the cumulative installed capacity of wind power in the European Union.
There is approximately a further 100 offshore wind farms currently at advanced stages of the planning process worldwide and there are currently government initiatives in several countries to greatly increase the deployment of offshore wind. The UK government recently announced plans to develop a further 33000 MW of offshore wind farms in an effort to meet their renewable energy targets.
Map of European offshore wind farms
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