Study sheds light on riskiest planned offshore wind farm projects

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Tuesday, 14 February 2012 12:30

February 14, 2012

Scientists recently published the results of a study that aimed to quantify the dangers associated with constructing wind farms off the coast of the U.S.

There has been a precipitous uptick in the number of wind turbines installed in the U.S. over the past decade, as businesses have worked to take advantage of generous government subsidies and incentives. As the U.S. continues to push forward with ambitious plans to increase its reliance on renewable energy sources, a number of developers have proposed constructing large-scale offshore wind farms in the U.S.

However, scientists have long debated whether such wind farms are capable of withstanding particularly strong winds. Researchers from Carnegie Mellon aimed to quantify the actual risks associated with various locations, and they calculated how wind turbines would hold up against hurricane-force winds. The scientists used historical data in their analysis, and they determined that Galveston County, Texas, was the riskiest location to construct such an offshore wind farm in the U.S.

Moreover, they found that Dare County, North Carolina, was also risky, as hurricanes routinely march through the U.S. Southeast. On the other hand, the study's findings indicated that there were far fewer risks associated with planned wind farms off the coasts of Massachusetts and New Jersey.

The scientists published their findings in PNAS, a National Academy of Sciences magazine.

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