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Re:Offshore wind will be a $1T industry by 2040, but it's ne... by bryanlarsen on Thursday November 14, 2019 @01:17PM (#21537833)
It was my impression that the main reason for building offshore is because the winds are much more steady there. The definition of trade wind is a "permanent prevailing wind"; building someplace with "permanent" winds sounds like a good idea to me.
Re:Offshore wind will be a $1T industry by 2040, but it's ne... by tda on Thursday November 14, 2019 @01:35PM (#21537994)
The better wind conditions help, but offshore wind is really expensive. Transport and install alone for a big offshore turbine can easily cost EUR 1-2M. Add to that undersea cables, higher maintenance costs (salt water, difficult access) and it is clear why onshore wind (if possible) is still the preferred choice. Nonetheless, mainly due to the up-scaling and abundance of available ocean space offshore wind has taken off in the last few years.
Re:Offshore wind will be a $1T industry by 2040, but it's ne... by jhayward on Thursday November 14, 2019 @02:43PM (#21538647)
Offshore siting also allows for much larger wind turbines, which are needed to economically exploit the higher quality winds given the extra expense of offshore construction and maintenance.

Onshore turbines are size constrained by transportation limits. Waters-edge construction and transport by sea allows for larger elements.

Re:Offshore wind will be a $1T industry by 2040, but it's ne... by aqme28 on Thursday November 14, 2019 @01:54PM (#21538205)
There are other advantages. Urban centers are often a lot closer to the sea than they are to the large open spaces suitable for wind.
Re:Offshore wind will be a $1T industry by 2040, but it's ne... by throwaway5752 on Thursday November 14, 2019 @01:19PM (#21537853)
Yes. Land based ones are often on plains or ridges. Steady and unimpeded wind is why aerial and offshore have better EROI.
Re:Offshore wind will be a $1T industry by 2040, but it's ne... by epoll on Thursday November 14, 2019 @02:39PM (#21538613)
Do land-based ones compete with agricultural usage?
Re:Offshore wind will be a $1T industry by 2040, but it's ne... by jhayward on Thursday November 14, 2019 @02:44PM (#21538658)
No. In fact, they make marginal agricultural operations economically viable by providing a second source of income to the farmer/land owner.
Re:Offshore wind will be a $1T industry by 2040, but it's ne... by beat on Thursday November 14, 2019 @04:41PM (#21539761)
We have huge wind farms here in Minnesota and Iowa. They're in the middle of crop fields. No problem at all.