Obama administration proposes massive 7200TWh/year offshore wind energy program

[SlyPokerDog]

https://electrek.co/2016/09/12/obam...-wind-resources-with-new-national-initiative/

 

[oldfisherman]

There are so many major problems with this idea. Here are just a few.

1) Sea/salt water is very corrosive. Moving and working parts do not last very long. Break downs are numerous, and costly to repair.

2) A test program was conducted off of the Oregon coast for a single wave generating buoy several years ago. It sank when the bilge pump failed, after only a few months of testing.

3) These wind generating structures will be huge, they are much larger than wave generators, and will be real eye sores. Not a pretty ocean view.

4) The Coast Guard needs to re-position many of their buoys that mark bay entrances after major storms. If they can not find a way to keep small buoys anchored to the ocean floor, I have no idea how they expect these large structures to stay in position during major storms.

5) These wind generators will need to be attached by large electrical wiring to the shore. Those beaches will be CLOSED TO EVERYONE for safety reasons.

6) All of the water area around the wind generators will be closed to everyone (boaters, fisherman, and swimmers/divers), for safety reasons.

7) The cost for a wind generator in salt water is many times greater than a land based wind generator.

 

[jlprk]

That site has many articles about the newest electric cars and motorbikes, e.g.

https://electrek.co/2016/05/24/airbus-3d-printed-electric-motorcycle-light-rider/

Sly's article links to the government report (pdf file). It tries to be detailed, but even in its 84 pages it's broad.

http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2016/09/f33/National-Offshore-Wind-Strategy-report-09082016.pdf

The plan is, like, a 40-50 year plan. It will evolve.

 

[stampedehero]

There are so many major problems with this idea. Here are just a few.

1) Sea/salt water is very corrosive. Moving and working parts do not last very long. Break downs are numerous, and costly to repair.

2) A test program was conducted off of the Oregon coast for a single wave generating buoy several years ago. It sank when the bilge pump failed, after only a few months of testing.

3) These wind generating structures will be huge, they are much larger than wave generators, and will be real eye sores. Not a pretty ocean view.

4) The Coast Guard needs to re-position many of their buoys that mark bay entrances after major storms. If they can not find a way to keep small buoys anchored to the ocean floor, I have no idea how they expect these large structures to stay in position during major storms.

5) These wind generators will need to be attached by large electrical wiring to the shore. Those beaches will be CLOSED TO EVERYONE for safety reasons.

6) All of the water area around the wind generators will be closed to everyone (boaters, fisherman, and swimmers/divers), for safety reasons.

7) The cost for a wind generator in salt water is many times greater than a land based wind generator.

> The Feds should build them off the coast of NJ. We already pay to get on a beach. They could park them off Asbury Park (once the only failed town on the coast-now regenerated)

 

[Denny Crane]

There are so many major problems with this idea. Here are just a few.

1) Sea/salt water is very corrosive. Moving and working parts do not last very long. Break downs are numerous, and costly to repair.

2) A test program was conducted off of the Oregon coast for a single wave generating buoy several years ago. It sank when the bilge pump failed, after only a few months of testing.

3) These wind generating structures will be huge, they are much larger than wave generators, and will be real eye sores. Not a pretty ocean view.

4) The Coast Guard needs to re-position many of their buoys that mark bay entrances after major storms. If they can not find a way to keep small buoys anchored to the ocean floor, I have no idea how they expect these large structures to stay in position during major storms.

5) These wind generators will need to be attached by large electrical wiring to the shore. Those beaches will be CLOSED TO EVERYONE for safety reasons.

6) All of the water area around the wind generators will be closed to everyone (boaters, fisherman, and swimmers/divers), for safety reasons.

7) The cost for a wind generator in salt water is many times greater than a land based wind generator.

Yep.

I live close enough to the ocean that our bicycles rusted out, our BBQ grills rust out and need to be replaced yearly, the light fixtures on the house rust out and need to be replaced, etc., and even metals inside the house have signs of rust. Rust proof metals get destroyed anyway.

I tried a Webber grill for a year, thinking they might know how to rust proof a grill. Webber originally was a buoy company, and that's why the kettles have their odd shape.

That's all from the marine layer alone. Put stuff in salt water and stuff gets damaged in a hurry and it's going to be constant maintenance and replacement.

The beauty of how we get energy today is that it takes so few (% wise) of the people to gather the energy. It used to be that everyone had to gather the energy they used (chop wood, make candles, tend fires).

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

Can't we just capture hot air from all the government buildings in DC and power the world?