Wind energy is the second-largest renewable energy source after hydropower. The technology harnessing offshore wind energy is quickly growing as more countries seek to generate offshore wind energy to improve sustainability. Offshore wind energy is generated from the strong winds at sea, transformed into electricity, and transmitted into the main electricity network offshore. Discover more about offshore wind energy and its potential.

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Is offshore wind energy renewable?

Of course, it is. Offshore wind energy is continuously renewable and sustainable. Additionally, wind energy conversion into electricity does not emit harmful greenhouse gases, which is valuable. ”As more countries put more efforts to tackle climate change and reduce carbon emissions, offshore wind energy will have a big impact on future electricity generation,” an expert from https://iqip.com/ says.

Advantages and drawbacks of offshore wind energy

The advantages of offshore wind energy generation include:

Besides being a clean and renewable energy source, offshore wind energy is cost-effective, reducing electricity bills for homes and businesses.
Unlike onshore wind farms, offshore wind farms are located at sea further away from local communities mitigating the worries of noise pollution due to the rotation of the turbine blades.
Offshore wind farms have less impact on the environment as they do not emit harmful greenhouse gases.
It is a reliable source of energy for powering homes and businesses.
The increasing offshore wind energy generation will support up to 400,000 jobs in the energy sector in the next few years.

Some drawbacks of offshore wind energy include:

Worries about the impact of offshore wind farms on marine and birdlife. That is why offshore wind farm developers should liaise with local environmental organizations to reduce the impact during the construction of the wind farms.
Potential destruction during the construction of wind farms. However, engineers are adopting new technologies to minimize the impact.

New technologies in the offshore wind energy industry

The technologies involved in offshore wind energy construction have evolved, making the energy even more affordable. Floating offshore wind turbines is an exciting development that makes it possible to tether wind farms to the seabed and even position them further out in the sea with strong winds. That will significantly boost the capacity of wind energy.

Massive cables used to route wind energy from offshore to onshore called interconnectors have also played a key role in boosting the distribution of wind energy reducing electricity costs for homes and businesses.

The development of taller and more powerful wind turbines will propel the industry even further because of their capacity to produce more energy. For instance, the halide-X 13MW was successfully tested, and a single sweep of its 107meter blade can power the average Uk household fr more than two days. New offshore wind farm construction techniques are also keen on noise mitigation offshore during pile driving to ensure environmentally-friendly installations.

As more countries deviate from fossil fuels and adopt decarbonization, the increasing demand for renewable energy will fuel innovations in the offshore wind energy sector. Engineers will also have to erect more resilient structures to withstand hurricane-level winds and avoid damage.