Nine countries join alliance to boost offshore windpower

Source: The post is based on the article “Nine countries join alliance to boost offshore windpower” published in Economic Times on 10th November 2022.

What is the News?

Nine countries including Britain, Germany, the United States and Japan have joined the Global Offshore Wind Alliance(GOWA).

What is Global Offshore Wind Alliance(GOWA)?

Global Offshore Wind Alliance(GOWA) was set up by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Denmark and the Global Wind Energy Council.

Purpose: The alliance brings together governments, the private sector, international organizations and other stakeholders to accelerate the deployment of offshore wind power.

Target: To contribute to achieving a total global offshore wind capacity of a minimum of 380 GW by 2030.

What is Offshore wind energy?

Offshore wind energy refers to the deployment of wind farms inside the water bodies. They utilize the sea winds to generate electricity. These wind farms either use fixed-foundation turbines or floating wind turbines. 

A fixed-foundation turbine is built in shallow water, whereas a floating wind turbine is built in deeper waters where its foundation is anchored in the seabed. Floating wind farms are still in their infancy.

Offshore wind farms must be at least 200 nautical miles from the shore and 50 feet deep in the ocean. 

Offshore wind turbines produce electricity which is returned to shore through cables buried in the ocean floor. The coastal load centres distribute this electricity based on priority.

What are the advantages and challenges of Offshore wind energy?

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