Next big thing: floating wind turbines at sea
Written by admin on April 5th, 2008 in Gadgets and Devices.
Several companies are hard at work trying to solve this problem: high winds exist out at sea where building wind turbines is most difficult. The apparent solution? Floating wind farms.
By building these units on shore then towing them out into position, the hope is less resistance from wealthy land owners concerned about their views and more energy derived from nature. These floating wind farms are anchored into position by chains to steel anchors on the ocean floor.
Another benefit to harnessing the wind far from land is engineers can go back to the more efficient but more noisy 2 blade propeller. The 2 blade lost out to the 3 blade years ago and is now poised to make a comeback. I know you’ve all been closet 2 blade fans. Ha, fans. OK, sorry.
Blue H, one such builder of these floating platforms, plans to conduct a test off the heated Cape Cod waters where public support has been fickle. The test will take place 23 miles off the coast.
Read [Technology Reviews]
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