California offshore winds show promise as power source
Offshore wind peaks in the evening when power demands are greatest and
other renewable energy sources are less available

Date:
September 8, 2020
Source:
California Polytechnic State University
Summary:
One of the challenges of moving toward fully renewable energy in
California by 2045 is matching production to demand. Consumer
demand peaks in the evening when solar energy is no longer
available. Offshore wind energy has the potential to help meet
this demand.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
As California aims to provide 60% of its energy from renewable sources
by 2030 and 100% by 2045, a study from California Polytechnic State
University provides some good news. Offshore winds along the Central
Coast increase at the same time that people start using more energy --
in the evening.


==========================================================================
One of the challenges of moving toward fully renewable energy is matching production to demand. Though the state has high existing solar energy
capacity and the potential for even more, the supply of solar power
peaks in the middle of the day and ends when the sun goes down. Consumer demand, on the other hand, peaks in the evening when people return from
work around or after sunset.

Because storage of solar energy on a large scale is not yet practical,
other renewable sources are needed to meet the Golden State's
environmental milestone of going fully renewable.

The Cal Poly research team found that offshore winds are strongest when
demand is greatest, making it an ideal candidate to fill the gap left by
solar and on- shore wind energy production. The team was led by research scientist Yi-Hui Wang and included biology professors Ben Ruttenberg
and Crow White and physics Professor Ryan Walter.

"The alignment between potential offshore wind power production and
demand highlights the important role that offshore wind energy could
play in meeting California's ambitious renewable energy goals," Wang said.

Even more promising, offshore winds reach their peak during the hot
summer months when state energy use is highest due to the use of air conditioning.

Offshore wind energy offers several other advantages over land-based
wind and solar energy, including stronger and more consistent winds and
less impact on other land uses.

The greatest wind speeds, which would produce the most energy, are found farther from the coast. Most existing offshore wind farms are installed
close to shore in shallow water less than 160 feet deep. However,
several floating wind farms in deeper water farther from shore are now
in operation in Europe, with more in the planning stages.

"Floating offshore wind farms are now a proven technology and game-changer
in many respects," Walter said. "These floating platforms make offshore
wind farms a new reality in many locations, with a single turbine
having the potential to power more than 10,000 homes." The Bureau of
Ocean Energy Management, which funded the study, is considering the
Central Coast as a location for California's first offshore wind farm
and has proposed priority areas for leasing by energy companies. The Cal
Poly study provides crucial information that, along with other studies
on economic, cultural and environmental factors, will help guide the
evaluation and planning of offshore wind energy.

"Looking at this wind data in relation to maps of fisheries, whale and
seabird activity will help identify locations where offshore wind farms
could add the most value and yet have the least impact on local economies
and marine wildlife," White said.

The Cal Poly team is working on the next steps, which include estimating
the total amount of electricity wind farms in the area could produce
and how these wind farms might affect the broader economy of San Luis
Obispo County.

"Ultimately, we hope this information and our ongoing work will inform
the conversation, helping the policymakers and citizens of California
decide if, how and where to prioritize renewable offshore wind energy," Ruttenberg said.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by
California_Polytechnic_State_University. Original written by Rachel
Henry. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Yi-Hui Wang, Ryan K Walter, Crow White, Matthew D Kehrli, Stephen F
Hamilton, Patrick H Soper, Benjamin I Ruttenberg. Spatial and
temporal variation of offshore wind power and its value along the
Central California Coast. Environmental Research Communications,
2019; 1 (12): 121001 DOI: 10.1088/2515-7620/ab4ee1 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200908170537.htm

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