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offshore grids for wind power integration - Greenpeace

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GLOBAL ENERGY [R]EVOLUTION<br />

A NORTH SEA ELECTRICITY GRID [R]EVOLUTION<br />

introduction<br />

“OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY HAS THE CAPACITY TO GENERATE A SIGNIFICANT SHARE OF ELECTRICITY<br />

IN A FUTURE EUROPEAN ENERGY MIX BASED LARGELY ON RENEWABLE SOURCES.”<br />

1<br />

© GREENPEACE/KATE DAVISON<br />

image MAN USING METAL GRINDER ON PART OF A WIND TURBINE MAST IN THE VESTAS FACTORY, CAMBELTOWN, SCOTLAND, GREAT BRITAIN.<br />

WIND TURBINES ARE NOT ONLY A SOURCE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY BUT ALSO A SOURCE OF EMPLOYMENT.<br />

1.1 objectives<br />

Offshore <strong>wind</strong> energy has the capacity to generate a significant<br />

share of electricity in a future European energy mix based largely<br />

on renewable sources. Along with the investments in <strong>offshore</strong> <strong>wind</strong><br />

<strong>power</strong> <strong>for</strong> the next two decades, the interconnection of <strong>offshore</strong><br />

<strong>wind</strong> farms via a, possibly meshed, <strong>offshore</strong> grid has repeatedly<br />

been brought up by public bodies and private companies.<br />

The overall objectives of this study are to show how <strong>offshore</strong> <strong>wind</strong><br />

<strong>power</strong> is suited to supplying the demand <strong>for</strong> electricity and to<br />

developing perspectives <strong>for</strong> the interconnection of <strong>offshore</strong> <strong>wind</strong><br />

farms by an <strong>offshore</strong> grid.<br />

For decision makers, this report can serve <strong>for</strong> developing a vision<br />

on <strong>offshore</strong> <strong>wind</strong> <strong>power</strong> <strong>integration</strong> that is broad as well as<br />

technically well founded. It answers the following questions:<br />

• What is the <strong>power</strong> output that large-scale <strong>offshore</strong> <strong>wind</strong> energy<br />

in the North Sea can deliver over time?<br />

• In what way do techno-economic developments in the <strong>power</strong><br />

sector influence this output?<br />

• How is the development of an <strong>offshore</strong> grid influenced<br />

by political priorities?<br />

• What is the cost of interconnecting <strong>offshore</strong> <strong>wind</strong> energy generation?<br />

The study answers these questions in general terms. Costs <strong>for</strong><br />

<strong>offshore</strong> infrastructure are described by order of magnitude.<br />

Complementary measures in order to improve the economic<br />

efficiency of <strong>power</strong> systems with a high share of <strong>wind</strong> <strong>power</strong> are<br />

discussed; however, no quantitative analysis was carried out. An<br />

examination of such measures with regard to the <strong>integration</strong> of<br />

electricity from renewable sources would require a separate study.<br />

8

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