andrewducker: (Default)
andrewducker ([personal profile] andrewducker) wrote2017-07-24 12:00 pm

Interesting Links for 24-07-2017

danieldwilliam: (Default)

[personal profile] danieldwilliam 2017-07-24 12:27 pm (UTC)(link)
It's not often I'm tempted to use "game changing" when looking at technology but those floating wind turbines might well be game changing. They open up vast areas of sea to commerical energy generation. It's the technology that might theoretically allow wind to supply 100% of energy demand and leaves the arguement down to one of cost.
danieldwilliam: (Default)

[personal profile] danieldwilliam 2017-07-24 03:24 pm (UTC)(link)
I believe that these prototype units cost something like twice the current cost of offshore wind. Whether that it is twice the cost you are paying if you install a sea bed mounted wind turbine today, July 2017 or twice the cost you would expect to pay if you were ordering an offshore wind turbine in July 2017 for delivering in 3-5 years I'm not sure. There is some indication that offshore wind turbines for delivery in 2022+ are cost competitive with other generation without subsidy.

In any event, these 5 units cost a lot, but StatOil must be targeting a cost that makes them subsidy-free competitive in the next few years.