Articles tagged with "offshore-wind-farms"
Chinese firm launches water-based eVTOL vertiport to boost low-altitude transport
Chinese company AutoFlight, in collaboration with battery maker CATL, has launched the eVTOL sector’s first integrated sea-air solution featuring a water-based “zero-carbon” vertiport designed to enhance low-altitude transport across large water areas. This innovative system addresses challenges such as limited site availability, slow infrastructure deployment, and complex takeoff and landing procedures by offering a rapidly deployable, flexible alternative to traditional land-based vertiports. It supports multiple flagship eVTOL models—including the industrial “White Shark,” the 2-ton cargo “CarryAll,” and the 6-seat passenger “Prosperity”—creating a fully integrated land-sea-air transport network suitable for applications like energy platform maintenance, emergency rescue, high-frequency commuting, and marine-aerial tourism. The system has already been delivered to early clients and is expected to significantly improve maritime operations, with tests showing eVTOL aircraft can reach offshore platforms up to 93 miles away in under an hour—over ten times faster than conventional
eVTOLlow-altitude-transportwater-based-vertiportenergy-platform-maintenanceoffshore-wind-farmsair-mobilityCATL-collaborationUK wind farms generate record 22.7 GW in a day, enough to power 22 million homes
On November 11, the UK’s wind farms set a new record by generating 22.7 gigawatts (GW) of electricity at 7:30 pm, enough to power 22 million homes. This output surpassed the previous record of 22.5 GW set less than a year earlier and marked a moment when wind energy supplied over half (55.7%) of the nation’s electricity demand. The high generation was driven by windy conditions, especially in northern England and Scotland, and included both grid-connected and embedded wind power feeding local networks. This milestone highlights the UK’s rapid progress toward a clean energy future and demonstrates the national grid’s capability to operate securely with large renewable inputs. The energy mix on that day was notably decarbonized, with wind contributing 43.6% from the main grid plus 12.1% from embedded sources, followed by gas (12.5%), interconnectors (11.3%), nuclear (8%), and biomass (8%).
energywind-powerrenewable-energyUK-energy-gridoffshore-wind-farmsclean-energyelectricity-generationSweden’s UFO scare at sea turns out to be a wind turbine blade
Sweden’s coast guard recently investigated a reported unidentified floating object (UFO) off the country’s west coast, which turned out to be a large, drifting wind turbine blade measuring approximately 15 by 5 meters. The object was initially reported by the Marine Corps and the Smögen Sea Rescue Company due to concerns it posed a hazard to shipping. After securing and towing the object ashore near the Norway border, authorities identified it as a battered turbine wing rather than any extraterrestrial technology. The origin of the blade remains unclear, with possibilities including detachment from one of Sweden’s few offshore wind farms or loss during transport. This incident follows a similar recent case where a supposed UFO was revealed to be a rusty hot water heater, highlighting the ongoing issue of maritime debris posing risks to navigation and requiring coast guard intervention. The discovery comes amid Sweden’s cautious reassessment of wind power development, especially after the government canceled 13 planned wind farms last year over concerns about interference with military radar amid geopolitical tensions with
energywind-turbinerenewable-energyoffshore-wind-farmsmaritime-safetySwedenturbine-bladeA Powerful Essay On Renewable Energy Exposes US To Ridicule
The article critiques the current U.S. administration’s approach to renewable energy, highlighting an essay by climate activist Bill McKibben published in The New Yorker. McKibben emphasizes the rapid growth of solar power, noting that the world installed its first terawatt of solar capacity over nearly seven decades, but subsequent terawatts have come much faster due to modern, mass-produced solar technology. He also underscores that wind energy, driven by solar-induced atmospheric movements, is a significant but often overlooked component of the renewable energy landscape. Despite this momentum, the article argues that the U.S. government, particularly under President Donald Trump’s administration, has hindered progress, especially in offshore wind development. The U.S. offshore wind industry, with its vast potential given the country’s extensive coastlines and infrastructure expertise, has faced setbacks due to shifting federal policies. While the Trump administration initially accelerated offshore wind leasing, it later halted the federal offshore lease program, stalling many projects. Although some projects began
energyrenewable-energysolar-powerwind-energyoffshore-wind-farmsclimate-activismclean-energy-technologyRenewable-Powered Battery Swaps: Unlocking Ship Electrification At Global Canals - CleanTechnica
The Maersk McKinney Moller Institute's late 2024 analysis affirmed that battery-electric ships are increasingly viable and competitive due to declining battery costs, improved energy density, and ease of integrating battery containers on vessels. However, the study underestimated the pace of battery price reductions, using outdated figures ($300 per kWh) compared to recent prices as low as $51 per kWh in China. This highlights the accelerating economic feasibility of electrified shipping. A recurring suggestion in discussions is mid-ocean recharging or "electron bunkering," where ships could recharge at offshore stations during long voyages, reducing the need for large onboard batteries. Despite the conceptual appeal of mid-ocean charging—potentially supported by offshore wind farms with battery storage—the article argues that practical and economic realities make such infrastructure unlikely. Offshore facilities are exponentially more expensive than onshore ones due to engineering complexity, maintenance challenges, and remote logistics, with costs increasing roughly tenfold offshore and even more subsea. Even the well-funded
energyrenewable-energybattery-electric-shippingoffshore-wind-farmsship-electrificationbattery-storagemaritime-emissionsWind Farms Outlast Expectations: Longevity Matches Nuclear - CleanTechnica
The article challenges the common assertion by nuclear energy proponents that nuclear power plants have a significant advantage over wind farms in terms of operational lifespan. While nuclear reactors typically have licensed lifespans of 40 to 60 years, often extended to 80 years, recent developments in wind energy demonstrate that wind farms can match or even exceed these durations. A notable example is Denmark’s Middelgrunden offshore wind farm, initially expected to operate for 25 years but recently granted a 25-year extension without major equipment replacement, effectively doubling its lifespan to 50 years. Other Danish wind farms like Nysted and Samsø have also received operational extensions, with potential for further life prolongation. In addition to lifespan extensions through maintenance and inspections, the practice of repowering—replacing older turbines with fewer, larger, and more efficient ones—significantly enhances the longevity and output of wind farms. The Ovenden Moor wind farm in the UK exemplifies this, having increased its electricity production by 2
energywind-energynuclear-energyrenewable-energyoffshore-wind-farmsenergy-longevityclean-energySharks & Rays Found Using Offshore Wind Farms As Habitat - CleanTechnica
A recent study by Wageningen University & Research reveals that offshore wind farms in the Netherlands serve not only as energy producers but also as important habitats for marine life, particularly sharks and rays (elasmobranchs). Using environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling—a non-invasive method detecting species presence through DNA traces in seawater—researchers confirmed the active presence of five elasmobranch species across four wind farms: Borssele, Hollandse Kust Zuid, Luchterduinen, and Gemini. The thornback ray was the most frequently detected, present year-round in several sites, while the detection of migratory basking sharks during winter provided new insights into their seasonal movements. The study highlights that offshore wind farms may act as safe havens for vulnerable species by prohibiting seabed-disturbing activities like trawling, allowing benthic ecosystems to recover and offering more stable habitats. Researchers caution against permitting bottom trawling within these zones to preserve their protective benefits. The findings support
energyoffshore-wind-farmsmarine-habitatenvironmental-impacteDNA-monitoringrenewable-energymarine-conservation