Offshore wind farms construction – advantages and disadvantages
More and more Poles care about the good of the natural environment. For this reason, they are starting to pay more attention to renewable energy sources (RES). In recent years, there has been a huge increase in the number of photovoltaic installations in Poland. The amount of energy generated by wind power is also constantly increasing in our country. Wind farms in Poland are currently being built on land, but soon the first offshore wind farms will be built in our country. Are you wondering if it is a good and safe solution? In the following article, you will learn about the advantages and disadvantages of offshore wind farms.
Where are wind farms built?
Traveling around Poland or other regions of the world, you have certainly seen many wind farms. Surely you have noticed that wind farms can be placed on land: in lowland, mountainous or coastal areas. There are not many restrictions in this respect, however, the construction of each wind turbine must be preceded by wind tests. Thanks to this, it is possible to estimate the annual electricity production of a given wind farm, which is the basis for examining the profitability of the entire investment.
Apart from onshore wind farms, offshore wind farms are also being built. Although there is not a single farm of this type in our country yet, the Orlen group plans to launch the first Polish offshore wind farm in 2026. The Baltic Power farm is to consist of 76 Vestas turbines, each with a generating capacity of 15 MW. The total capacity of the farm is to be around 1.2 GW. It will cover an area of approximately 130 km² and will be located approximately 23 km from the Baltic coast next to Choczewo and Łeba.
The principle of operation of offshore and onshore wind farms
Before explaining why offshore wind farms are worth building, let’s go back to the basics and explain how a wind turbine works. When the wind rotates the rotor blades, thanks to the devices installed in the nacelle, the kinetic energy is converted into electricity. Thus, the wind’s energy is transferred to the gearbox, which converts the low speed of the rotating blades into a higher speed rotation. The propeller shaft driven in this way, rotating fast enough, powers the electricity generator. It should be noted that the principle of operation of the wind turbine itself, both onshore and offshore, is the same.
Why is it worth building offshore wind farms?
Undoubtedly, building an offshore wind turbine has many advantages. The most important is the ability to generate more clean energy, which is directly related to higher returns on investment. The other advantages of offshore wind farms include:
1. More production of electricity. The wind speed at sea is in most cases higher than on land. It should be noted that a small increase in wind speed results in a large increase in energy production. For example, a turbine in winds of 24 km/h can generate about twice as much energy as a turbine in winds of 19 km/h. So higher offshore wind speeds mean that much more energy can be generated.
2. High wind stability. Offshore wind speeds tend to be more stable than on land, and a more stable wind input provides a more productive source of energy. This means an increase in the efficiency of using the wind turbine.
3. Electricity supply for coastal areas. Many large urban agglomerations are located by the sea. Of course, they need a lot of energy. Certainly, the construction of offshore wind farms can meet the energy demand of nearby urban centres.
4. Free space. Offshore wind farms have no physical constraints such as hills or buildings that could block the wind flow. In addition, they have a relatively neutral impact on the surrounding natural environment. It should also be noted that the sea gives more space for the location of wind farms.
5. They do not have a significant impact on the landscape. Onshore wind farms are often accused of having a negative impact on the landscape. Offshore wind farms are not such a big issue in this regard, because they are built at some distance from the coast. In addition, offshore wind farms are not a problem with the generated noise.
Disadvantages of offshore wind farms
However, offshore wind farms also have some disadvantages. Of course, it is not the case that they are an ideal and the only right solution. Among the disadvantages of offshore wind farms should be mentioned:
1. Higher cost of construction and service. It must be admitted that the biggest disadvantage of an offshore wind farm is the higher cost of its construction. Offshore wind farms will also be more expensive to maintain and service due to their location away from land. They are also more vulnerable to heavier weather conditions (storms, waves), which can cause unpredictable failures.
2. Negative impact on the landscape. Although, as mentioned earlier, offshore wind farms do not have a significant impact on the landscape, they can be seen from the coast. Therefore, sometimes they may arouse reluctance of inhabitants of coastal towns, who are afraid of the wind farms negative impact, e.g. on tourism.
It must be admitted that the right choice of location for an offshore wind farm is very important. This type of investment should start with the performance of appropriate analyses and the preparation of a precise project. Certainly, it is also worth carrying out public consultations with the inhabitants of coastal towns and present them both the advantages and disadvantages of an offshore wind farm.
Which is better – a wind farm on land or offshore?
There is probably no definite answer to this question. It should be noted that both offshore and onshore wind farms generate clean, environmentally safe electricity. However, it seems reasonable to build offshore wind farms. Despite the higher construction and operating costs, these types of power plants produce more electricity, work more stably and do not affect the landscape as drastically.
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