Floating windmills the key to offshore wind energy?

There seem to be two types of people in the world -- those who think this looks totally cool:



...and those who do not.

Because wind energy sources are, in many cases, found on shorelines (oceans, seas, the Great Lakes, e.g.), finding ways to move the wind turbines out over the horizon has many attractive advantages: visual impact, noise, bird deaths are all reduced. The problem is that the water there is so deep, anchoring them to the lake, sea or ocean floor is not feasible.

Enter the floating wind turbine. Seriously.

There are three basic types as shown in this diagram:



You have those that are ballast stabilized, mooring stabilized and buoyuancy stabilized.

StatoilHydro, a Norwegian oil and gas company, has teamed up with Siemens and Technip to develop an operational ballast stabilized 2.3 megawatt floating offshore wind turbine called the Hywind.

Here it is under construction:



According to an a recent article in Composites Manufacturing it was assembled thusly:

After nearly a decade of research, the company began assembly and installation of the one-of-a-kind windmill [in June 2009]. The assembly was done in stages. First, the substructure was towed horizontally from a port to a nearby fjord where water was poured in until the structure upended itslef. Then, gravel and stone were used to lower it to the required depth of 328 feet (100 meters) below the surface. The tower, which is 213 feet tall, was added in two sections; and lastly the generator and blades were attached.

Here's a drawing of the final installation:



Youtube video HERE.

It will now undergo a two-year pilot study looking at how the turbines behave under floating conditions and measuring forces and fatigue under different motion controlling routines.

Again from the Composites Manufacturing article:

The floating structure, designed to behave similar to a boat hull, consists of a steel jacket filled with ballast and software, which will control the windmill blades and effectively stabilize the structure.

I'm one of those types that thinks wind farms look totally coolio, jack. But lots of folks aren't. Offshore windmills that are out beyond the horizon may be a solution to this problem and it looks like the technology now exists to make that a reality. How cool is that???!

And one more thing: why is this being developed by a Norwegian oil and gas company and not an American one???

Carol Browner on Detroit Automakers: "So Much Optimism!"

Former head of the EPA and Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change, Carol Browner, was in Michigan on August 3rd to talk to Detroit vehicle manufacturers about the future of the industry. She was invited by freshman Representative Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield) who has recently introduced legislation called ADVANCED VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY ACT that will inject $550 million into the Dept. of Energy for research and development of the next generation of energy efficient vehicles.

Carol Browner, head of the Enviromental Protection Agency under Bill Clinton, was picked by President Obama as the first director of the newly created Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy. She was in Michigan yesterday to attend an event described by the Detroit News as "a panel of auto executive, suppliers and academic and government researchers gathered Monday at Automation Alley to discuss the future of car production in the United States".

While there, she talked to the crowd about the Obama administration's view that vehicle fuel efficiency advances and emissions regulation are "part of an ongoing commitment to help the industry recover and retool". In other words, rather than an impediment to the industry, these actions to protect our planet and to wean our country off from our dependency on foreign fossil fuels are an OPPORTUNITY for U.S. vehicle manufacturers to regain their position as global leaders in the development and manufacturing of vehicles people actually want to buy.

"There are so many interesting things going on here in Detroit, and we want to start down that path of breaking our dependence on foreign oil."

Browner also said that the current administration is insistent that commercially successful developments be "technologically neutral". "It should be driven by science and driven by the consumer," she told the panel. According to the Oakland Press, Browner said she plans "to use her notes from the discussion to build inquiries on how the federal government could do more for carmakers."

Later in the evening I attended a fundraiser for Rep. Peters and Ms. Browner was in attendance. She spoke passionately about the Obama administration's strong desire to help domestic automakers rise from the ashes. Rather than seeing a group of downtrodden, beaten-up business people, she was delighted to find a receptive and eager audience, ready to take on the new challenges posed by our woeful economy and our nation's energy & climate situation.

"There was just so much optimism in the room today."

There's reason for optimism. Rep. Peters, the first Democrat to be elected in his district since it was created in 1933, is working hard to ensure that manufacturers in this state are given the tools they need to adapt to the changing economic reality. Passing a bill out of committee in his first eight months in office is no small feat. According to Peters' press release, his legislation:

“Investing in research and development of advanced vehicle technologies will help our auto companies turn the corner and emerge from the global economic crisis,” said Rep. Peters. “This legislation will help ensure the cars of the future are built here in the U.S., creating good paying jobs and reducing our dependence on foreign oil. In Southeast Michigan we have many companies in prime position to lead the world in the development of these exciting new products. This bill is good for the country and great for Michigan. These are exactly the sort of targeted investments we need to get our economy moving.”

And this isn't all just about cars. Peters says his bill "would also aggressively expand efforts to develop fuel efficient commercial truck technologies and engage auto parts and component suppliers in DOE research and development programs." What does that mean? Here's an example (from the Detroit News article):

Dr. Grace Bochenek, director of the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center in Warren, said her organization is looking for light-weight solutions for military vehicles including the Humvee, which gets 3 miles per gallon.

"We hope to drive an all-electric ground combat vehicle by 2025. We see that as a capability that will change battlefield dynamics," Bochenek said.

After the panel discussion yesterday, both Peters and Browner were able to see some other examples of the new technological advances that are in the pipeline including an all-electric Ford Focus, due to be released in 2011, and together they drove a next-generation semi-truck. "He drove, I was just a passenger," Browner joked at the fundraiser. "It was in parking lot so everyone was safe!"

I am thrilled to see a Michigan Democrat taking such an early and strong position in this area and it's welcome news that the Obama administration is taking it very seriously as well. My only regret? Two sentences into introducing myself to Ms. Browner, Rep. John Dingell arrived to give a speech and she was hustled off immediately afterwards to catch a plane. I never got a chance to tell her about our local OFA group's efforts to make sure energy conservation stimulus money is being spent properly and directed to those who need it most.

Maybe next time.

U of M Group Invests in Wind Energy Company

From Concentrate Media:

The venture capitalists at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business have struck again, investing $80,000 into an Ann Arbor-based company.

Accio Energy will use the money to develop a wind energy system that generates electricity differently than your standard wind turbine. The "aerovoltaic technology" uses charged particles and wind to generate electricity in a machine that doesn’t have any moving parts.

More HERE.

Green-Oriented Petitions

There are a number of green-oriented petitions in circulation right now. Here are a few that may interest you. (Note that most of these sites will ask you to consider making a donation but none of them require it in order to sign the petition. They may also send you emails in the future though all of them will allow you to opt out later if you wish to.)

First, Keystone Progress has a petition that allows you to sign onto a letter encouraging Congress to pass a strong energy policy bill:

There's a huge fight in Congress right now over how to attack global warming and jumpstart a green economy. On our side is everyone who wants clean energy, green jobs and cares about the future. Against us is Big Oil, King Coal, and the fact that most people sit on the sidelines.

Your member of Congress really needs to know which side you're on, and that you want a stronger clean energy and green jobs bill.

Powerful oil and coal interests did some real damage to a good bill in the House Energy Committee - winning loopholes, bailouts, and giveaways from taxpayers. The current bill doesn't actually require the creation of wind or solar power, and repeals President Obama's ability to regulate dirty power plants.

But we can strengthen and improve this bill on the House floor, if enough members of Congress will join our fight. Can you send a letter urging your representative to fight for a stronger bill?

Sign the petition HERE.

Repower America has a related video:



Environment Michigan has a petition allowing you to encourage Congress to pass The American Clean Energy and Security Act. The petition reads:

I support dramatic efforts to usher in a new clean energy economy and cut global warming pollution. The American Clean Energy and Security Act would require all new buildings to be green buildings within a generation. Please support this legislation and take every opportunity to strengthen it and deliver more clean energy for America.

Sign the petition HERE.

Finally, MoveOn.org has a petition similar to Keystone's. The petition reads:

"We need a stronger energy bill to fulfill Obama's vision of a clean energy economy. Congress should strengthen the clean energy standards and restore Obama's authority to crack down on dirty coal plants."

Sign their petition HERE.