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US begins work on first offshore wind plant

HOUSTON, May 25, 2015

The US recently began construction of its first offshore wind plant, a 30-megawatt (MW) farm consisting of five turbines, which is expected to start its operation in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2016, a report said.

The feasibility of Block Island Wind Farm, located 18 miles from the coast of Rhode Island, is secured by a 20-year power purchase agreement, explained Douglas-Westwood, an independent organisation and leading provider of market research and consulting services to the energy industry.

Compared to the European sites, the Block Island project is tiny, but it could prove the commercial viability of such projects for policy makers, utilities and capital funds, boosting further investment in the US offshore wind energy sector.

The US is ranked the second largest producer of wind energy. With more than 65 GW installed capacity in 39 states, wind energy represented over 4 per cent of national power generation in 2014. Annual installations peaked in 2012 when some 13 GW of new capacity came online.

Onshore wind energy is currently approaching cost-competitive levels around the country, according to Douglas-Westwood.

However, while the US is internationally recognized for its strong offshore energy operations, there has been no utility-scale offshore wind energy production in the country to date, the research organisation said. – TradeArabia News Service




Tags: US | Douglas-Westwood |

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