Offshore wind potential in North Carolina and possible configuratons
As the East Coast of the United States begins development of offshore wind power, utility companies want estimations of the energy to be gained and the costs associated with harnessing that power. As a resident of coastal North Carolina, I would much rather see our homes powered by offshore turbines rather than the coal-fired and nuclear plants we currently employ. The environmental benefits of using our offshore land for wind power rather than oil and natural gas exploration are significant. It would eliminate risk of oil spills, cause no disturbance to ocean mammals after installation, and provide clean energy to the coast to help reduce carbon emissions in the atmosphere. In 2009, North Carolina was determined to have the most offshore wind potential of any Atlantic state. This thesis looks at the three sites off the coast of North Carolina selected by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. Data collected from each site is analyzed and utilizes current-day turbine power curves to estimate annual energy output at each site for a single turbine installation. A cost analysis is then performed for each site, generating a Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), so prospective companies can have an estimate of the cost associated with an offshore installation taking advantage of North Carolina’s winds. Results found the area designated as “Wilmington East” to have the most potential, with estimated energy outputs reaching between 3.14x107kWh/yr and 3.68x107kWh/yr, with capacities on the order of 50-60%. The data from the “Wilmington West” site had to be discounted due to lack of accurate data. Running a variety of scenarios, the LCOE of an offshore project in North Carolina ranged from 198-334 $/MWh.
Orkuvísindi, Meistaraprófsritgerðir, Vindorka, Tækni- og verkfræðideild, Sustainable energy, Wind power, School of Science and Engineering
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