Electric power from offshore wind via synoptic-scale interconnection

Abstract

World wind power resources are abundant, but their utilization could be limited because wind fluctuates rather than providing steady power. We hypothesize that wind power output could be stabilized if wind generators were located in a meteorologically designed configuration and electrically connected. Based on 5 yr of wind data from 11 meteorological stations, distributed over a 2,500 km extent along the U.S. East Coast, power output for each hour at each site is calculated. Each individual wind power generation site exhibits the expected power ups and downs. But when we simulate a power line connecting them, called here the Atlantic Transmission Grid, the output from the entire set of generators rarely reaches either low or full power, and power changes slowly. Notably, during the 5-yr study period, the amount of power shifted up and down but never stopped. This finding is explained by examining in detail the high and low output periods, using reanalysis data to show the weather phenomena responsible for steady production and for the occasional periods of low power. We conclude with suggested institutions appropriate to create and manage the power system analyzed here.

Optimal management of wind and solar energy resources

“…Their results show a significant dampening of variation in wind energy delivery (at the order of 33%) following the adoption of this plan. Similar findings are reported by Archer and Jacobson [2] for the Midwestern United States and by Kempton et al [15] for offshore areas along the east coast of the country.…”

“…Spatial displacement as a risk diversification strategy has become a popular topic in the literature; see e.g. the works of Holttinen [12], Archer and Jacobson [2], Cassola et al [4], Ostergaard [23], Kempton et al [15], Roques et al [28], Grothe and Schnieders [9], Santos Alamillos et al [30]. Still, the empirical evidence with respect to the true potential of this strategy is mixed.…”

Integrated life-cycle assessment of electricity-supply scenarios confirms global environmental benefit of low-carbon technologies

“…Gridintegration measures for variable supply, such as the stand-by operation of fossil fuel power plants, grid expansion, demandresponse and energy storage (25)(26)(27), result in extra resource requirements and environmental impacts (28). The challenges of balancing supply and demand are not yet severe in the BLUE Map scenario, in which variable wind and solar technologies cover 24% of the total electricity production in 2050, but balancing becomes a serious concern later in the century in the many mitigation scenarios investigated by ref.…”

The time has come for offshore wind power in the United States

“…Although well-intentioned, this policy, unfortunately, has been counter-productive, reinforcing competition among states when cooperation is needed. Electric grid infrastructure is shared regionally; there are regional reliability benefits from offshore wind power; and regional offshore backbone transmission systems, like that proposed by Google/ Trans-Elect, would come with the benefit of fewer cables to shore (the place where offshore wind power has its most immediate effect on coastal residents) and less intermittency (13). States have interstate coastal development concerns on the one hand, but can benefit from economies of scale of large regional projects as well as from sharing whatever economic development benefits arise, on the other.…”