Nov 18 2010
The latest EU ORECCA project workshop says that the future electric power demand of entire Europe can be met by utilizing offshore wind, tidal and wave energy technologies.
The EU-ORECCA project (Off-shore Renewable Energy Conversion platforms – Coordination Action) targets to surmount the prevailing information disintegration on marine and offshore wind resources in European countries.
The offshore wind turbines that currently supply nearly 2.8 GW wind energy to the European power grids are located around 20 km away from the shore line and are constructed in shallow waters measuring a maximum of 20 m depth. According to the project discussions, the future offshore wind farms will be located around 40 km from the shore line and will be installed in around 40 m depth and there is every likelihood of this figure getting raised subsequently. The discussions also has pointed out that moving the wind turbines farther away from the shore line will open up opportunities for innovations and synergies with other marine renewable resources such as tidal and wave energy along with wind power production. It also suggests the need for testing floating platforms for installing offshore Hywind projects. According to the discussions the power developers and utilities are looking for ways to generate energy by the combined use of wind, tidal, wave and aquatic biomass to reduce the cost of generating power from seas and oceans.
The ORECCA network presently has its head offices located at Siemens. The network will introduce a generic guideline which will be utilized by EU in its future financing programs and its action plans to introduce Research and Development facility required by the clean energy sector. The present workshop is coordinated by Ecofys and Siemens.
Source: EU ORECCA