The biggest question is hurricanes, Celata said. In addition to its R&D work on the hurricane-resistant turbine, the Shell Gulf Wind Technology Accelerator will also launch an education and training facility to develop a workforce for the regions new offshore wind industry. Biden is facing increasing pressure to act on climate change after swing vote Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) walked away from Senate climate talks this week. Is it going to cause a lot of fatalities? Federal energy regulators have begun reviewing the potential environmental impacts of offshore wind development in the Gulf of Mexico, in keep, The Texas coast may have better winds for offshore wind development, but its Louisianas political winds that are drawing the interest of the, Study sees potential for 510,000 megawatts, twice the current needs of all five Gulf states. BOEM Completes Environmental Review of Offshore Wind - CleanTechnica Engineers are developing blades that can collapse during hurricane-strength wind. Simply log into Settings & Account and select "Cancel" on the right-hand side. Next US energy boom could be wind power in the Gulf of Mexico Emissions from burning fossil fuels are at the heart of dramatic climate shifts that rob birds of habitat and harm their ability to breed, migrate and find food. Wind is blowing towards renewable energy in oil-rich Gulf of Mexico stream but also to demonstrate cost competitiveness in regional electric markets. Many of these resources are already available along the U.S. Gulf Coast, a major offshore oil and gas production region. Wind Turbines in Extreme Weather: Solutions for Hurricane Resiliency Gulf of Mexico From November 1 for 45 days, BOEM is inviting the public to weigh in on possible commercial wind energy leasing in a proposed area in the Gulf of Mexico. Feds are taking a look, World's biggest offshore wind developers eyeing Louisiana for Gulf's first turbines, The Gulf of Mexico is poised for a wind energy boom. feasible resource potential of 508 gigawattsthe largest of any of the technologies 7th July 2020 Offshore wind turbines may become the primary source of renewable energy for gulf-bordering states. There are certain parts of Texas where wind turbines are an expected part of the scenery. 6 0 obj They can limit the number of turbine lights, which tend to attract birds, and potentially shut down wind farms during peak migratory periods, Johnson said. This work is supported with a grant funded by the Walton Family Foundation and administered by the Society of Environmental Journalists. Thats twice the current energy needs of all five Gulf states, and larger than the potential offshore wind capacity of the Pacific Coast and Great Lakes combined. As we see it, an offshore wind boom in the Gulf would be good for the region, the nation and the worlds climate. The analysis also indicated that a single offshore wind project could support approximately Check if your r"2!\_TYT@UXNld3n"o$5)61]*(fs&$ tS8"RTj4 U4:n&>`/V $ President Biden will also direct Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to advance wind energy off the mid- and Southern Atlantic Coasts and Floridas Gulf Coast, though the White House did not announce any concrete plans to develop wind energy in these regions. A downwind turbine avoids these components and lets the wind blow the blades away from the tower. This week the US interior department called on companies to . WASHINGTON The Department of the Interior today announced its intent to assess potential opportunities to advance clean energy development on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).This significant milestone is part of the Biden-Harris administration's goal to create thousands of jobs through the deployment of 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind by 2030. James Martin, CEO of Gulf Wind Technology, explains why the Gulf of Mexico requires a unique approach when it comes to the development of its offshore wind industry: Wind resources in the Gulf region are more variable than what you find on the East Coast where most US offshore wind development activity is currently happening. A Conversation with Heather Otten Texas leads the nation in wind energy, but all of that is on land. A future president might not push offshore wind the way Biden has, or might even oppose it, as President Donald Trump did. It is used for hurricane research and prediction to create a new Coupled Hydro-Aerodynamic Interface for Storm Environments. This tool helps wind system designers to lower the risk for offshore wind turbine systems located in extreme weather areas. BP Wind Energy applied to Western Area Power Administration to interconnect the proposed project to one of two transmission lines crossing the Project Area. And in terms of power output, what are the experts saying, and who gets that power? Josey Centennial Professor of Energy Resources, The University of Texas at Austin, Associate Professor of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin. Does that affect the enthusiasm for this project at all? Its part of the DNA here to work offshore.. With passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, which contains US$370 billion for climate and energy programs, policy experts are forecasting a big expansion in clean electricity generation. The International Energy Agency forecasts global upstream oil and gas investments are set to increase by around 11% to $528 billion in 2023, the highest level since 2015. . You know, theyre looking to retrain; theyre looking to do something else, because the economy in the Gulf just isnt there. Thats changing with tighter setback rules in leading wind states like Iowa that limit how close to homes turbines can be placed, which are driving up construction costs and limiting the availability of acceptable sites. As part of his climate strategy, President Joe Biden has set a goal for the deployment of 30 gigawatts (30,000 megawatts) of offshore wind generating capacity by 2030 enough to power 10 million homes with carbon-free electricity. He notes that several Louisiana companies with ties to the offshore oil and gas industry have helped design and build wind projects on the East Coast. Lighter wind shear in Gulf of Mexico - Yahoo Click here to learn more and get your quotes. They might not look like it from 200 feet below, but industrial wind turbine blades are enormous116 feet in their own right on GE's common 1.5-megawatt models. This transcript has been edited lightly for clarity: Texas Standard: How big of a project are we talking about here? Solar power and batteries can solve some of these problems. Water depths up to 160 feet currently the maximum depth for fixed-bottom wind turbines extend nearly 90 miles off the coasts of southeast Texas and southern Louisiana, compared with only about 40 miles off Nantucket and Marthas Vineyard in the Northeast. For comparison, the new Traverse Wind Energy Center in Oklahoma has 356 turbines and a 998-megawatt generating capacity. Any changes made can be done at any time and will become effective at the end of the trial period, allowing you to retain full access for 4 weeks, even if you downgrade or cancel. The proposed wind farm site would occupy 38,099 acres of public land managed by the BLM, Kingman Field Office, and 8,960 acres of Federal land managed by the Reclamation. The prospect of offshore wind power in the Gulf of Mexico took another step forward on Wednesday, when the Biden administration released a new proposal to lease tracts of the Gulf for wind power. The Interior Department's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), which plans and leases offshore energy projects, is conducting a review of about 30 . One of the offshore wind plants could account for 4470 construction jobs and over 150 permanent positions and could contribute $445 million in GDP during construction that would generate over $14 million in GDP annually. The blades were designing today are 2.5 times larger than this baby.. Neither entity stands to benefit from this article. The Biden administration on Wednesday said it had identified 700,000 acres for possible offshore wind energy development in the Gulf of Mexico, seeking to expand a growing clean energy industry to . Port Isabel, Galveston, and Port Arthur in Texas; Pensacola and Panama City in Florida; As far as what Ive heard from bird scientists, theyre not too concerned about it. Studies conducted by the NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) indicate that wind energy may be the best renewable energy source for Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. Your gift helps pay for everything you find ontexasstandard.organdKUT.org. analyse how our Sites are used. By Michael Marks & Marissa GreeneFebruary 24, 20232:38 pmEnergy & Environment, Texas Standard Original, Andy Dingley via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0). We welcome the findings of the studies conducted by the NREL, and were proud to be a trusted name in the wind power industry. Tristan Baurick: tbaurick@theadvocate.com; on Twitter:@tristanbaurick. Power companies can use subsea cables to bring wind energy to industrial facilities, instead of building hundreds of miles of overhead wires, with associated right-of-way and land access disputes. Change the plan you will roll onto at any time during your trial by visiting the Settings & Account section. Initial construction would create about 4,470 jobs and generate $445 million in goods and services. The Biden administration has identified two zones for offshore wind power development in the Gulf of Mexico, which up until now has been firmly identified with oil and gas production. Biden administration announces first Gulf of Mexico offshore wind lease With more offshore wind, there will be a net benefit for birds.. Louisiana pursuing wind energy opportunities in the Gulf of Mexico The largest of the new breed of mega-turbines is GEs Haliade-X, which was tested at LMs New Orleans facility. But the prospect of wind turbines tacked to old oil rigs is unlikely. The laboratorys analysis included a hypothetical 600-megawatt wind project near Lake Charles. These facilities disproportionately harm the health of communities of color in cities like Houston and across the U.S.. Wind power development in the Gulf also offers an opportunity for a smooth labor transition as the U.S. gradually reduces its reliance on fossil fuels. Federal lease planning could conclude by 2023, followed by a five-year site assessment process. Write an article and join a growing community of more than 167,100 academics and researchers from 4,665 institutions. Gulf of Mexico Activities | Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Some offshore oil platforms might have a second life as wind energy substations or serve in other support roles. But with the fast pace of innovations in the industry, Celata is confident solutions are in the offing. Offshore Wind in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico: Regional Economic Modeling & Site-Specific Offshore Wind in the US Gulf of Mexico - Bureau of Ocean Energy Management In fact, research priorities of a new offshore wind R&D consortium to be funded by DOE may include a focus on improving the understanding of extreme metocean conditionssuch as those experienced during hurricanesto better predict potential failure modes of turbines operating in these areas, leading to the adoption of more robust engineering designs. The program has been specifically created to address and fulfil this need and enable next steps for the region and for the industry. More. Importantly, offshore wind complements onshore wind. US to expand offshore wind in the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico endobj The economic outlook for offshore wind energy in the Gulf of Mexico is getting rosier, with as many as 17,500 jobs likely to be created if two wind farms take shape off the coasts of Texas and Louisiana, according to a new report by the American Clean Power Association. personalising content and ads, providing social media features and to The idea that there are thousands of jobs possible thats absolutely correct, he said. Fishing guide Chris Willi passes wind turbines in the Atlantic Ocean near Block Island, Rhode Island, in September 2021. But a lot can change over the next decade. The study showed that offshore wind was a feasible technology and identified six specific locations that were highly suitable for this type of development. "Our technician at the Beaver Creek Wind Farm noticed an anomaly with one of the wind turbines - went to check it out - and saw that a . Thanks for donating today. Hes hopeful the transition will go more smoothly because the Gulfs fishers are already used to plying their trade alongside thousands of oil and gas platforms. Shrimpers see obstacles that will make their jobs tougher, more dangerous; regulators vow to listen. For example, cables may be buried as deep as 32 ft under the seabed to mitigate local hazards, depending on water depth and bottom type. The Anemoi Energy Services team has serviced wind farms all over the United States, from coast to coast. Next US energy boom could be wind power in the Gulf of Mexico - Yahoo News It has designed and tested blades bound for wind farms off the coasts of China, the United Kingdom, Massachusetts, New York. There are worse threats to birds. technology challenges such as hurricane exposure, lower winds, and softer soils that Premium Digital includes access to our premier business column, Lex, as well as 15 curated newsletters covering key business themes with original, in-depth reporting. [ b;(=ryW6\lf #\nw8&ZrD{QT Many of the best U.S. land-based wind generating areas (dark blue zones) are far from coastal population centers, but those cities could be served by offshore wind farms. The work of surveying the Gulf of Mexico for offshore wind farms will have no significant impact on the environment, according to a federal as +22 New analysis shows 740 chemical sites in . How much power, and where would these turbines go? xUmO0)>hI}~M*R_:i:hZmw It was a popular national monument, until it was robbed to extinction. The (report) further validates the economic opportunity for south Louisiana in offshore wind, said Michael Hecht, CEO of the economic development organization Greater New Orleans Inc. Because the Port of Houston has space limitations and is already congested with ship traffic, Hecht believes Louisiana ports, including New Orleans, Avondale and Port Fourchon, are perfectly positioned to attract the lions share of the wind operations in the Gulf of Mexico.. 3| 3| 3052651 Offshore structures werent designed to support towering and exceedingly heavy add-ons. Subscribe to Electrek on YouTube for exclusive videos and subscribe to the podcast. existing offshore oil and gas infrastructure, the Gulf of Mexico presents many advantages Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson said offshore wind presents a new frontier for employment in a state that sorely needs it. Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management plans to begin leasing the Gulfs deep waters for offshore wind projects by 2025. Compare Standard and Premium Digital here. We earned our stellar reputation by maintaining a safety record of zero incidents or environmental issues on any of our job sites. Many of the skills needed in the offshore oil and gas industry are directly transferable to building and servicing wind farms. Less than 20 years old, the blade is already a relic. It . Offshore wind turbines are likely coming to the Gulf of Mexico Leasing in the Gulf and other federal waters off the East and West coasts is likely to encompass between 2,500 and 4,400 square miles. For a full comparison of Standard and Premium Digital, click here. So initially they were saying they could generate about enough power for about 3 million homes. The first study, Offshore Renewable Energy Technologies in the Gulf of Mexico, analyzed different offshore renewable energy technologies, including offshore wind, 5 0 obj Companies could bid for the right to install turbines around Galveston and Lake Charles, La. that the oil and gas industries in the Gulf could capitalize on new energy opportunities by leveraging their ocean-based capabilities to expand business. With average wind speeds, maximum water depth of 1000 m . 4*sw>zF'cUzgViJ"MGi4I\ However offshore wind turbines on the Atlantic coast (as well as the Gulf Mexico), have another challenge to contend with: hurricanes, which well explore below. This story by ESI Journalism Fellow Tristan Baurick was originally published in theTimes-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate, where it appears with additional photos and resources. HOUSTON The Gulf of Mexico's first offshore wind farms will be developed off the coasts of Texas and Louisiana, the Biden administration announced Wednesday, and together they're projected. Celata said the agency is expediting the Gulf leasing process to meet President Joe Bidens offshore wind development goals. As air speeds slow in west Texas on a hot summer afternoon, coastal winds pick up, helping to meet summer peak demand and improving grid reliability. And I know that some folks along the coast have been voicing some environmental concerns about putting turbines where theyre talking about right now. Celata said whatever lessons and compromises that come out of the wind development process on the East Coast can be applied in the Gulf. The Energy Department is developing tools to help wind system designers lower the risk for offshore wind turbine systems located in extreme weather areas. application, NREL further analyzed the economic feasibility of offshore wind both US$370 billion for climate and energy programs, big expansion in clean electricity generation, 30 gigawatts (30,000 megawatts) of offshore wind generating capacity by 2030, billions of dollars on long-distance transmission lines, tighter setback rules in leading wind states like Iowa, measures in the climate bill that increase support for offshore wind, green hydrogen generation and storage and carbon sequestration, set rules for offshore wind in state waters, seeking federal funding together with Arkansas and Oklahoma. The study projected that costs Despite the Gulfs shortcomings, several wind developers have expressed interest in building wind farms off the Texas and Louisiana coasts. technologies offer the most promise to meet the future energy needs for the five Gulf-bordering Ocean Wind, a venture backed by Portugals largest energy supplier, pledged to repurpose large Gulf Coast fabrication and port centers for offshore wind projects in the region as well as for wind farms taking shape elsewhere in the country where the local manufacturing and port facilities are not as robust. and other data for a number of reasons, such as keeping FT Sites reliable and secure, For example, most wind farms here in the Lone Star State are located on the high plains in west Texas, and were only built after the state spent billions of dollars on long-distance transmission lines to move their power to where its needed. Wind farms could join oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico The industry now employs just 1.5% of the states workforce. This means that fixed-bottom wind turbines can be used in more places, rather than floating systems, which reduces complexity. Thanks to its long history in offshore oil and gas, Louisiana has the unique capacity to engineer, construct, install, and service offshore wind structures not just in the Gulf, but on both U.S. coasts, as well, Hecht said. And many of the best wind energy zones are far from electricity demand centers. San Antonio community wonders if the death of Melissa Perez at the hands of SAPD will be a wake up call, Understanding the differences between the House and Senate plans for delivering property tax relief, Texas Democrats push property tax cut that includes renters. were selected jointly by BOEM and NREL for a more detailed cost analysis to represent We also believe that offshore wind energy can help advance environmental justice goals. And I think some people may say, well, is that a kind of a subterfuge or a way to make an environmental argument out of concerns about renewable energy, replacing demand for carbon-based energy? In addition to the wind hitting the turbine, the turbines foundation also has to contend with large, powerful waves. Offshore wind turbines on the Atlantic coast (as well as the Gulf Mexico) have several challenges to contend withincluding hurricanes. John Bel Edwards goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and his Climate Initiatives Task Forces recommendation that the state draw at least 5,000 megawatts of electricity per year from offshore wind by 2035. LMs New Orleans facility is the only wind engineering technology center in the U.S. A 2020 study conducted by NREL quantified the Gulf's gross offshore wind resource capacity at 1.87 terawatts (TW). Turbines might start spinning over the Gulf as early as 2028. (+*">+Kk/_A4u\7#5l Theres a sense that its an inevitable thing. The Biden administration on Wednesday announced the first-ever lease sale for offshore wind power in the Gulf of Mexico, part of a wider goal of . You may change or cancel your subscription or trial at any time online. Turbines have grown bigger and more efficient, and proposed wind farm projects have increased in numbers and size. As oil output peaks, US Gulf of Mexico makes room for carbon capture locations throughout the Gulf of Mexico and recommended to BOEM six viable study areas: *ad. In 2016 NREL reported that the Gulf holds about 15% of the US' gross offshore wind energy potential and 25% of the country's technical offshore wind energy potential. Hurricanes arent a challenge we cant overcome, she said. The platforms for these wind turbines in the Atlantic Ocean near Block Island, Rhode Island, were made in south Louisiana. Liz Hartman is the Communications Lead for DOEs Wind Energy Technologies Office. Currently, the Gulf Coast is not one of those but that could change soon. We see the Gulf of Mexico as an especially attractive place to do business. The Gulfs forecasted lease rates are on the low end compared to lease areas near New York, California and Oregon. possible future offshore sites in the Gulf of Mexico. Once constructed, the wind farm would support 150 jobs and an annual infusion of $14 million into the economy from operations, maintenance and materials. utility-scale development in the Gulf. various potential offshore energy resources in the Gulf of Mexico and determine which Hosting a workforce so adept at building industrial structures in deep water means Louisiana will benefit regardless of where the projects take shape. The area that was reviewed in the EA included 30 million acres just west of the Mississippi River to the Texas/Mexican border. Birds are another big question. The Bureau Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has announced the publication of a final environmental assessment (EA) that considered the impacts of potential offshore wind leasing in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. .wr7_-,7`r34:`K,(rXJ|RtHr/j=hi-G*b[2VQ9.ys2EPKa4J The Energy Department has previously funded work in this area through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). and New Orleans in Louisiana. Michelle Lewis is a writer and editor on Electrek and an editor on DroneDJ, 9to5Mac, and 9to5Google. What truly sets the Gulf apart is its primed and ready workforce. Interior Department to Explore Offshore Wind Potential in the Gulf of Diurnal Wind Characteristics in the Gulf of Mexico Diurnal wind cycles exhibit similar day/night characteristics at all sites. But onshore wind has downsides. The prospect of offshore wind power in the Gulf of Mexico took another step forward on Wednesday, when the Biden administration released a new proposal to lease tracts of the Gulf for wind power. Biden moves to expand offshore wind to Gulf of Mexico | Reuters This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. All three sites have peak winds in the late evening. 4,470 jobs with $445 million in gross domestic product (GDP) during construction and The low point of the cycle corresponds with mid-day for all sites. The worlds two largest such firms -- Orsted of Denmark and RWE of Germany -- are particularly keen on sites off the Louisiana coast, thanks in part to Gov. Recent hurricanes Irma and Maria inflicted a lot of damage on infrastructure, including energy infrastructure. U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics Importantly, the Gulf Coast has a robust offshore industry that was established to serve oil and gas producers, with many specialized companies offering services such as underwater welding, platform manufacturing and helicopter and boat services to get people and equipment to sea. Its a four-year process weve compressed into two.. However, unique conditions in the Gulf of Mexico introduce new The Gulf of Mexico has for decades been a sea of hulking oil platforms. x;{J38MS-g]oa[. The associations offshore wind employment estimates are almost 50% higher than a similar Gulf-focused assessment published by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in early 2020.