Offshore Wind FAQs
With the planned closure of many local coal-fired power stations in the coming decade, there is a lot of power generation capacity that will need to be replaced. The wind offshore is generally stronger, more consistent, and less turbulent, than those onshore. This means that larger, more powerful turbines can be built closer to where this power generation is needed. Offshore wind is one of the only clean energy options that can be deployed at the scale required, in the location required. Offshore wind also tends to produce power at different times to solar and onshore wind, making it an important part of a decarbonized power grid.
The wind turbines will not generate any carbon emissions while operating. Although, most manufacturing around the world still uses carbon intensive electricity, like fabricating anything else, there are emissions associated with producing the turbines. Factoring these into the energy generated over the first 25 years of operation, the wind farm will contribute around 6g CO2/kWh of energy produced. Compared to the estimated 900g CO2/kWh of energy produced just from burning the coal in a thermal power station this is over a 99% reduction in emissions per kWh generated.
Once operational the turbines will also significantly help to reduce the emissions associated with locally produced industrial products in the future.
The turbines will be able to be seen on the horizon from the shore. Although, a key design consideration for Cape Winds Offshore Windfarm is minimising the visual impact of the wind farm. To this end, the layout and the colour of the turbines will be designed to minimise their visual impact and ensure that they blend in with the natural surroundings as much as possible.
Some noise is created by the ‘swishing’ of blades against the wind, although this is very unlikely to be audible from the shore. The potential noise impact will be assessed as part of the feasibility studies and the consenting process.
There will be hundreds of direct jobs during construction, as well as numerous indirect opportunities for local businesses. There will also be hundreds of permanent ongoing local jobs over the life of the wind farm for operations and maintenance personnel. If you are a local supplier or contractor, we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch with us via the contact forms on the website.
The impacts of the wind farm on local bird populations will be studied by third-party experts in the project’s environmental impact assessment before the design is finalised. Where it is identified that there is the potential for the wind farm to impact local bird populations the wind farm design will be modified accordingly.
The biggest threat to marine ecosystems globally is climate change. Renewable technologies such as offshore wind farms support the reduction of climate change and it’s impact on the marine ecosystem.
The potential impact of the offshore windfarm to the marine ecosystem will be assessed and the global experience will be taken into consideration in order to take steps to minimise the impact on wildlife and habitats at every stage of the project to include comprehensive research, environmental surveys, rigorous assessments, monitoring and modelling.
We recognize the importance of commercial and recreational fishing in the area and are working closely with stakeholders and government agencies to ensure the fishing and the project can be co-located.
The structures have the potential to act as substrates that support different types of marine life. The team at Cape Winds Offshore Windfarm are actively looking at ways to increase the potential of the wind farm to contribute to enhancing the existing marine habitat values.
Yes. Electricity generation is a major source of green-house gas emissions in Australia. And each turbine installed in the Cape Winds Offshore Windfarm will avoid approximately 49,000 Tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. Each 1 GW of offshore wind installed nationally is expected to reduce Australia’s current emissions from electricity generation by around 2.4%.
Yes. In fact fully recyclable wind turbine blades are now being produced commercially for offshore wind projects under construction.
