Brown N.A.
Float Incorporated, US
Keywords: energy storage, offshore wind, stable platforms, wave energy
Offshore wind and wave power are, or can be, remarkably complimentary. Given a stable floating platform to share, important economies of renewable power production and storage are possible. (A figure shows how wind and wave resources share the power potential.) The offshore, floating wind and wave energy system is made up of closely related functional parts. Central is the floating, stable support platform that places both energy-collecting units where the targeted energy is, largely un-attenuated and relatively steady: offshore in deep water. The platform serves as a base, not only for the energy collectors, but for their necessary maintenance, in conditions close to those ashore, as well as for a sizable potential energy store to assist load leveling. Further, the platform supports the electrical (or other) power conditioning equipment and cabling for the entire wind & wave “farm,” in largely land-like, accessible, in-the-dry conditions.
Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: Technical Proceedings of the 2011 Clean Technology Conference and Trade Show
Published: June 13, 2011
Pages: 5 - 8
Industry sector: Energy & Sustainability
Topic: Sustainable Materials
ISBN: 978-1-4398-8189-7