Recent Developments
Due to the increasing demand for renewable sources of electricity, there have been many recent developments in wind power. Major research is put in to make higher power, higher efficiency and more reliable wind turbines. Another main area that wind power has developed, is the investment in offshore wind farms. The wind turbines are installed in the sea and therefore are less visible and more can be built since there in not a shortage of space. Also, the sea is very open, so the wind turbines can be placed in areas which get reliable and fast winds, producing more electricity. There are some disadvantages with offshore wind turbines, including the fact it is more difficult and more expensive to build them in the water and transport the electricity they produce to the electric grid. Another disadvantage is, there is more corrosion from crashing waves and the salt water. However, research has been put into offshore wind farms in order to develop them in recent years.[1]
1991: The first offshore wind farm
Vindeby offshore wind farm was built in 1991 off the coast of Denmark, it consisted of 11 turbines and altogether had a power capacity of 450kW.[1] In 2017, Vindeby was dismantled due to its 25-year lifespan being over because of corrosion effects from the sea.[2]
2000: Wind power development in Spain
In December 1999, the Spanish government approved the Plan for the Promotion of Renewable Energy prepared by IDEA, stating that 12% of Spain’s energy demand would be met by renewable sources. This caused 795 MW of new turbines to be installed in 2000.[3]
2009: Enercon E-126 Wind Turbine
In 2009, the company Enercon produced the world’s highest performing onshore wind turbine. It has a hub height of 135m and a rotor diameter of 127m. With improvements in 2011, it has a power output of 7580W.[4]
2017: The first floating wind farm
The Hywind project off the coast of Scotland is the first floating wind turbine farm. It consists of five wind turbines that float on the seawater rather than actually being fixed to the seabed. The wind farm at maximum capacity is projected to produce enough power for 20,000 households.[5]
The future:
Currently, research is being put in to producing efficient and cheaper floating wind turbines. Also, ways to store the electric energy produced from wind turbines are being developed so that the power output is more reliable and consistent, so wind power can be used to meet the varying demands in electricity. [1]
References:
[2] http://renews.biz/108374/dong-completes-vindeby-removal/
[3] http://academic.engr.arizona.edu/instructor/projects/WindPowerDevelopmentInEurope.pdf
[4] https://www.enercon.de/en/products/ep-8/e-126/