An increase in the number of sea-based wind farms will likely result to larger turbines compared to those on land, which could reach 10 megawatts with blades 85 metres long by 2020, said the chairman of Norway’s Det Norske Veritas on Monday.
Veritas, which evaluates wind turbines for certification, thinks that the industry would need financial support for years since the cost of sea-based wind turbines are around 40%-60% above those on land, stated Chief Executive Henrik Madsen to Reuters.
He said that Veritas, a private organisation, certifies around 75% of offshore wind turbines, excluding those in China. Veritas claims that the organisation and the Germanischer Lloyd of Germany are the major groups establishing industry standards.
The planned surge centred on the North Sea and the UK, which is part of the efforts to slow down climate change, would probably mean larger turbines offshore.
“They can be larger. It’s easier to transport (turbines) on ships and install them”, said Madsen. On land, the blades and heavy cranes usually have to be driven on narrow roads to a remote hilltop, making it more difficult to transport.
“We believe you will see larger turbines up to 10 megawatts offshore”, he added. The American Wind Energy Association stated that a 10-MW turbine will be sufficient to provide electric energy to around 2,250-3,000 households in the US.
“There’s huge potential”, said Madsen, referring to offshore wind. Large turbines currently have a capacity of around 5 MW.
