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Harnessing the sea wind

David Bradley

Corbis

Giant offshore wind parks could provide Europe with a clean, renewable source of energy.

Strong winds on the high seas could provide an alternative energy source to power stations that burn fossil fuels or rely on nuclear power. This would avoid many of the problems of pollution, global warming and the disposal of radioactive waste.

The European Commission has enlisted the help of companies and researchers from 13 European Union countries in the Concerted Action on Offshore Wind Energy in Europe (CA-OWEE) project. The team will find out how to harness every breath of wind around European shores, from howling gales to the gentlest of breezes.

Giant wind parks

The work will set a course for giant wind parks to be built at sea that will generate as much electricity - thousands of megawatts - as several power stations, and supply green power for the whole of Europe.

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The research project will last 18 months and will consider the technology needed, how the wind farms would be wired up to European electricity grids, costs and environmental impact as well as any potential political problems.

Scientists at the Technology University of Delft are leading the project and looking at how to improve the massive wind turbines that will be needed to tame the wind and convert the rotation of their blades into electrical energy. Wind power experts there will find ways to match, if not beat, the efficiency of conventional power stations.

Links

Danish Wind Turbine Manufacturers' Association
Excellent site for history, techniques and potential for harnessing wind energy.

British Wind Energy Association
Good explanations of wind power, with links to other sites.

Activity

1. How do wind turbines work?
2. Who first discovered the effect that makes this possible?
3. What benefits does wind power have over conventional power sources, such as fossil fuels and nuclear energy?
4. What are the disadvantages of wind power?
5. Why does the European Commission want to locate wind farms out at sea where transferring the electricity to land might be difficult?