If this holds true...

Gilligan

#*! boat!
PREMO Member
..and recent progress suggests it will, then offshore wind could become the cheapest form of renewable energy except for hydropower.

The larger offshore wind turbines that have appeared on the market in the last two years are responsible for about a third of the cost reduction seen during the period, Blanch said.

Other reasons for the lower LCoE are positive changes in the supply chain, and mainly the cost of finance, as offshore wind is now seen as less risky of an investment, according to Blanch.

https://www.offshorewind.biz/2017/12/08/bvg-associates-30-lcoe-reduction-still-to-be-had-by-2030-expertise-hub-video/?utm_source=emark&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-update-offshore-wind-2017-12-11&uid=69352
 

Toxick

Splat



Wasn't Martin O'Malley trying to start up some initiative in Maryland involving this - which was posing a threat to the livelihood of the PAX Navy Base?
 

Clem72

Well-Known Member
Might work for Maryland, as it does for small countries with lots of shoreline. But it doesn't help the overwhelming majority of the country that is too far away to get any benefit. Same reason Pickens abandoned wind power.
 

Gilligan

#*! boat!
PREMO Member
Might work for Maryland, as it does for small countries with lots of shoreline. But it doesn't help the overwhelming majority of the country that is too far away to get any benefit. Same reason Pickens abandoned wind power.

Pickens was primarily focused on onshore wind, a technology with only limited potential and a lot of drawbacks. He bailed for good reasons that are still valid today. Offshore wind cost was the focus of this post....and while it is geographically constrained, yes, that does not change the fact that where it can be installed, its becoming a very economical source of power.

But look at Germany.....big country with limited shoreline yet gets a huge chunk of its power from offshore wind.
 

Gilligan

#*! boat!
PREMO Member
Wasn't Martin O'Malley trying to start up some initiative in Maryland involving this - which was posing a threat to the livelihood of the PAX Navy Base?

There is still a large offshore wind project on the table off MD coast. We'll see....
 

Monello

Smarter than the average bear
PREMO Member
Solar would seem the way to go. Florida, Arizona, SoCal. Lots of sun. Tidal energy also. Places with huge tidal swings like Bay of Fundy and Alaska. Plus it's not as visually ugly.
 

Gilligan

#*! boat!
PREMO Member
Solar would seem the way to go. Florida, Arizona, SoCal. Lots of sun. Tidal energy also. Places with huge tidal swings like Bay of Fundy and Alaska. Plus it's not as visually ugly.

Solar requires so darned much land area to produce enough. But it does have its place in the mix. I had to laugh though...driving around the day after the recent snow and seeing it completely covering all of the roof-mounted panels on all the homes that have them.

Research is proceeding on tidal power. A new R&D project is nearing completion in upper New England....I've forgotten where exactly.

Nearly all current-generation wind farms are located too far offshore to see from the shore.
 
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