New York Bight - Wind Energy Areas at Sea

[Montanan]

The U.S. Interior Department recently announced that it was starting the process of designating the initial Wind Energy Areas in the New York Bight, the roughly triangular-shaped piece of shallow coast stretching from southern New Jersey to the end of Long Island. Reference attached map. The area is bisected by the deep water of the Hudson Canyon, and it sees extensive use by recreational boaters, commercial and recreational fishermen, and cargo ships. It's also home to many fish species and marine mammals, including whales.

Offshore wind is regulated by the Departments of Commerce, Energy, and Interior, the heads of all three agencies (Gina Raimondo, Jennifer Granholm, and Deb Haaland) declare that they were committed to a 30 GW by 2030 goal. That includes Interior planning to lease new offshore sites for energy development and review 16 existing construction and operation plans that have been submitted for approval. Collectively, should these plans pass environmental and safety reviews, they will get the US two-thirds of the way toward the 2030 goal. Estimates are that achieving the target will require $12 billion a year in investment and support a large number of new jobs.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021...offshore-wind/

[Chotu]

Not a fan. I’d prefer solar on every single roof or nuclear.

[seandepagnier]

Could someone explain why they don't just put the windmills on inshore waters first?

[Montanan]

Originally Posted by seandepagnier

Could someone explain why they don't just put the windmills on inshore waters first?

The winds are much stronger and more consistent at sea and there is comparatively little available undeveloped land in the States of New Jersey and New York to build wind farms. These turbines are going to be massive compared to the typical land based turbines, upwards of 9 megawatts each. The sea is shallow in the bight region so it does not cost a lot to install foundations.

[Montanan]

Fact sheet:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-...o-create-jobs/

[flyingfin]

Originally Posted by seandepagnier

Could someone explain why they don't just put the windmills on inshore waters first?

Because those would be easier to install, maintain & repair. Plus you could drive a truck to them. By placing them offshore, you increase the degree of difficulty thereby generating more money for those involved in the install, maintenance & repair. Ever paid for a project subject to the Jones Act?

[seandepagnier]

thank you for proving my point


there is enough undeveloped wind resources just in north carolina to power the entire country at times. The winds in the sounds can be pretty strong, but it's shallow which would make it easy to put wind turbines there.

[silkie]

Does anybody know what the non turbine structures in Montanan's pics are? Domiciles, offices, workshops? None of these thoughts make sense.

[clakiep]

Well, at least a large energie consumer is close by !


Capt. Claus - ocean tramp of the eighties

[Cadence]

Fear not three US departments can regulate the wind. :-)

[Montanan]

Originally Posted by silkie

Does anybody know what the non turbine structures in Montanan's pics are? Domiciles, offices, workshops? None of these thoughts make sense.

Likely electrical power conversion station wherein the power from each turbine is routed, transformed and rectified to high voltage DC so as to avail transmission by undersea cable to a power station on shore where it would then be feed into the high voltage AC grids. AC does not transmit well when placed in proximity to the inductance of salt water.

The size of the turbines and generators has grown incredibly. I recall our team building our first wind turbine prototype generator 20 years ago. It was considered massive at its time being rated 3 megawatts at 13 rpm. It was a direct drive generator, no gear boxes, connected directly to the hub of the blades, hence its top speed was 13 rpm. One can imagine the torque required to produce 3 megawatts at only 13 rpm. It looked like a bicycle wheel / Ferris wheel. Spindly spokes out to a rim of revolving permanent magnets that were radially about a foot in length. The entire generator was about 40 feet in diameter but only about two feet in axial length. Very lightweight. Very unique design, no wire conductors or iron in the stator. Both the rotor and stator could flex freely but would not rub against each other when the device pitched and yawed in the wind. Now the industry has moved up to 9 megawatts and more per unit.

[sailingfarmer]

Bad idea... millions of seabirds will be killed... And what happens if they get a 1938 hurricane? These mills burn out and the cost of repair and replacing parts negates all the energy savings...

[Hoodsail]

I am a fan, no pun intended, of wind over nucs (still an issue w/ waste storage), and am driving by more & more small solar panel "farms" here in new england. Have sailed by the wind farm off the south east coast of Block Island here....no navigation hazard in my opinion. If you collide with one of them you would most likely run aground on Block too! They are BIG... I believe there is a restricted zone marked off near them on my chart, but cant swear to it. So turbines south of long island makes sense. Go where the wind is. Curious how this will develop.
Another option, land based, is uninhabited Plum Island on the eastern end of long island sound...Gov't has moved off Plum, and I believe its fate/use is still up for discussion. Its calling for windmills...

[Kd9truck]

Originally Posted by seandepagnier

Could someone explain why they don't just put the windmills on inshore waters first?

Visibility

No one wants to look at them. Money owns water front property, and money has a very big voice in politics, and zoning.

And what would inshore windmills do that off shore windmills don,t?
Most power boaters (10 to 20 ft vessels) rarely venture 2 mile off shore, inland or coastal.
Most sailboats day sail and rarely go more that 10 miles off shore.

[dannc]

Originally Posted by sailingfarmer

Bad idea... millions of seabirds will be killed... And what happens if they get a 1938 hurricane? These mills burn out and the cost of repair and replacing parts negates all the energy savings...

Yep, and how long will it take to restore the windmills and repower the grid?



Later,
Dan