GE develops new concept for floating wind turbines

In order to achieve our climate goals, we will have to generate significantly more electricity from sustainable sources in the near future. In addition to solar energy, wind power also plays a major role. A particularly large amount of electricity could be generated in the open sea, here it is predominantly windy, at the same time there is plenty of space available. But how can wind farms be operated on the high seas?

Many corporations have been working on this topic for years; today’s systems can be anchored at a maximum depth of 60 meters. Floating wind farms could soon change that, the major corporation General Electric recently presented a futuristic concept. It aims to make such farms affordable and scalable.

Because some solutions are already available, but such farms do not yet exist on a large scale. Most of the time it is too expensive to assemble such solutions on the high seas. GE’s concept leverages the company’s largest ever turbine model, roughly the size of the Statue of Liberty and Washington Monument combined.

Once installed, the power plant can identify wind speed and swell and then balance itself out. In this way, large amounts of energy can be obtained, this is passed on to land via the seabed and can then be brought to all parts of the country via power lines.

If the technology proves itself, then some problems with wind turbines could be solved. Because mostly residents protest: inside of affected areas against the construction of such huge facilities. If, however, we build the bikes not far from the coast, then neither the view should be spoiled nor there will be noise pollution.

Own opinion:

We still do not use the full potential of wind power, with the new developments we could finally produce electricity in deeper waters. Even this will probably not completely solve our energy problems, but it is still another step in the right direction.