Maine launches first grid-connected floating offshore wind turbine

The U.S. renewable ocean energy industry achieved a milestone last week with the launch of the nation's first grid-connecting floating offshore wind turbine.  A consortium led by the University of Maine developed and deployed a 1:8-scale prototype in the Gulf of Maine.  What does it mean for ocean energy?

A sailboat catches the wind off the Maine coast.

Offshore wind presents a significant energy resource.  The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has estimated that U.S. waters could host a gross wind power resource of 4,223 gigawatts -- about four times as much generating capacity as the current U.S. electric grid.  If even a fraction of this can be developed in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way, it could power a significant portion of our electricity needs.

While land-based wind projects represent a relatively established technology -- with over 60,000 megawatts installed in the U.S. by the end of 2012 -- and European waters are home to over 5,000 megawatts of offshore wind, no commercial offshore wind projects have been built in the U.S.  The rigors of the ocean environment create engineering challenges for offshore wind, which drives costs up.  Particularly in U.S. waters, the best wind resources are located in deeper waters farther offshore.  This means that floating wind turbines may be the most cost-effective way to harness offshore winds.

While several prototype floating offshore wind systems have been deployed off Europe, no grid-connected projects have been deployed in U.S. waters.  Using $12 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, the University of Maine and its project partners have developed the VolturnUS prototype.  This unit has several features that may lead to a breakthrough in the cost curve of floating offshore wind.  While most models to date have relied on steel, the VolturnUS semi-submersible platform uses a concrete foundation and composite tower.  While the prototype is just 65 feet tall, its design characteristics are hoped to lead to lower construction costs for larger-scale units closer to 500 feet tall.

The University of Maine is also planning a larger offshore wind demonstration called Aqua Ventus I.  Using a separate $4 million Energy Department grant, the University is engineering and designing a pilot floating offshore wind farm with two 6-megawatt direct-drive turbines on concrete semi-submersible foundations near Monhegan Island. If selected for further funding in 2014, the Aqua Ventus I project could be constructed and installed in several years.

Maine bond hold affects offshore wind R&D, energy efficiency

Maine Governor Paul LePage has placed a hold on $40 million in bonding, including a bond approved by Maine voters in 2010 to develop an off-shore wind energy demonstration site and related manufacturing and make energy improvements at state university and college campuses.

Damariscove Island, a designated offshore wind energy site off Boothbay Harbor, Maine.

On June 8, 2010, Maine voters passed a measure approving a $26,500,000 bond issue "that will create jobs through investment in an off-shore wind energy demonstration site and related manufacturing to advance Maine’s energy independence from imported foreign oil".  The measure was designed to "leverage $24,500,000 in federal and other funds and for energy improvements at campuses of the University of Maine System, Maine Community College System and Maine Maritime Academy in order to make facilities more efficient and less costly to operate".

Funding under this bond measure was split between energy efficiency and infrastructure upgrades at state higher education facilities and offshore wind research and development.  $9.5 million was designated for energy and infrastructure upgrades at all campuses of University of Maine System, $5 million for similar upgrades throughout the Maine Community College System, and $1 million for upgrades for the Maine Maritime Academy.

The remaining $11 million was designated for the University of Maine System's Maine Marine Wind Energy Fund, which provides funds for research, development and product innovation associated with developing one or more ocean wind energy demonstration sites.

Under Maine law, voters can authorize the government to issue bonds, but exactly when the money is borrowed can be determined by the governor and state treasurer.  Governor LePage has previously expressed his opposition to the state borrowing more money through bonding.  Today, the Kennebec Journal reports that Governor LePage has placed $40 million in bonding on hold, including the campus energy upgrades and the Maine Marine Wind Energy Fund.  The governor reportedly told project sponsors that while "[e]ach project that these bonds provide for may be worthwhile", the earliest he believes it would be prudent to issue new bonds is January 2014.

What does this mean for ocean energy R&D and school campus energy upgrades?  According to the KJ, the issuance of these bonds would have given the Maine Marine Wind Energy Fund $7.3 million, and college campuses $3.6 million. While the affected projects may still move forward, particularly if the projects can continue to move forward without relying on further bonding or state debt, the timing of their funding has been placed into question.

Monhegan offshore wind postponed

The Rockland, Maine-based Free Press Online reports that the testing of a scaled-down floating deep-water offshore wind turbine off Monhegan Island this summer has been postponed until 2013.

Dockside, Monhegan.

In 2009, the Maine Ocean Energy Task Force selected a site off Monhegan as an offshore wind test site.  At the site about 2 miles south of the island, the University of Maine-led DeepCWind Consortium plans to develop a one-third scale (about 100' tall) floating platform and test turbine.  The consortium has described the Monhegan offshore wind project as a pilot project, designed to test platform and turbine technologies as well as to assess project impacts on the ocean environment.

Pre-development of the Monhegan wind project has been taking place.  The project has faced challenges, including a lawsuit alleging that the Maine Department of Conservation wrongfully granted the project a permit to use the site.  Throughout, the DeepCWind Consortium has targeted project deployment and installation for the summer of 2012.

Now, project proponent Dr. Habib Dagher is quoted as saying that some permits are still pending for the Monhegan site, meaning the project cannot be deployed this summer.  2013 is the new target for project deployment.

Floating offshore wind in US waters?

US coastal waters may soon see the development of floating offshore wind electric generating projects. Being able to install offshore wind turbines on floating platforms, as opposed to towers fixed to the seabed, may enable projects to tap into the vast deepwater ocean energy resource. This would represent a major step in history and technology, and could provide real data on the actual feasibility and costs of offshore wind in the United States.

The Cuckolds Light off Boothbay Harbor, Maine, with Seguin Island Light in the distance.

2012 may bring the deployment of North America's first floating offshore wind project. The DeepCWind Consortium and the University of Maine plan to test a floating wind turbine several miles off the Maine island of Monhegan next summer. The Monhegan project is designed as a pilot project, not a commercial effort. Nevertheless, the lessons learned off Monhegan could be used to shape a larger commercial project in 2013.

Historically, this project could be the first operating US offshore wind development. As 2011 closes, US waters still host neither operating commercial offshore wind projects, nor installed pilot projects of significant size. This is not for lack of interest. Universities and businesses are investing in offshore wind research and development, while developers eagerly pursue commercial projects in nearly all US jurisdictions. Commercial proposals range from projects fully permitted projects but unbuilt, to concepts still in the formation phase.

Technologically, a floating offshore wind project would demonstrate potential solutions to the engineering challenges posed by deep water sites. At least two floating turbines have recently been deployed around the world. The first, Statoil’s 2.3 megawatt Hywind unit, was installed off Norway in 2010. In November 2011, Portuguese utility Energias de Portugal (EDP) teamed up with Principle Power, Inc. to deploy a 2 megawatt turbine on a WindFloat platform off Portugal. The semisubmersible WindFloat design allows the unit to be towed in a horizontal position to the site, then erected without the use of a lift vessel. These test projects demonstrate some of the technologies required for deepwater offshore wind projects. A US project would represent a similar demonstration of new technology.

Floating offshore wind projects appear to have some momentum in Europe, and are poised to make a splash in US waters in the next year. Whether these efforts take hold depends on broader questions of economics and policy as much as on technology. What will 2012 bring?

February 24, 2011 - Maine offshore wind research

Collaboration between academia and industry is key to tackling the significant technical and legal challenges associated with the development of offshore wind potential.  This symposium held this week by the University of Maine and the DeepCWind Consortium gives project developers the research results they will need to make more informed bids for offshore wind development in the Gulf of Maine.

The report gives key data useful to any developer of a successful offshore wind project in the Gulf of Maine: data on "met-ocean conditions" (wind and wave data, weather information), the results of seabed characterization studies, electric interconnection and grid data, and information about the impacts of a given project on both the physical environment and stakeholder interests.  The compilation of this information entailed a massive undertaking, performed by the University and its research partners through a federal Department of Energy-funded grant.

This report dovetails with the Maine Public Utilities Commission’s request for proposals for long term contracts for deep water offshore wind energy pilot projects.  That RFP calls for initial responses from interested developers by May 1, 2011. The RFP solicits proposals to sell renewable energy, capacity, and RECs from one or more floating deepwater offshore wind energy pilot projects, with a possible carveout for tidal projects.  Last year's Ocean Energy Task Force bill gives the Maine PUC authority to approve one or more long term contracts for up to 30 megawatts of installed capacity and associated renewable energy and renewable energy credits from such projects.

Who will bid in response to the RFP?  Will there be a truly competitive process?  What will the responsive projects cost?  Will the incentives for developing these pilot projects be sufficient to attract concrete proposals?

July 23, 2010 - no Senate energy bill for now; wind gets boosts

A bit of New Meadows eye candy:


Sure enough, the Senate climate bill is dead. Instead, we'll get a weak energy bill addressing the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, promoting building energy efficiency through the HomeStar program, and promoting the use of natural gas as a fuel for large trucks.

In Maine, the Fort Halifax dam removal saga continues. Prior to removal of this dam on the Sebasticook River, the town of Winslow, Maine and residents had voiced concerns about erosion, and had appealed (without success) the Department of Environmental Protection's orders approving dam removal. After the dam was removed, portions of the former impoundment's banks suffered severe erosion. The town had to spend over $725,000 to demolish six homes on Dallaire Street that were threatened by the newly eroded banks. The affected areas also included the river bank below the historic (mid-1700s) Fort Hill Cemetery, eroding the bank back much closer to the cemetery fence and grave sites. Former dam owner FPL Energy Maine Hydro commissioned a study of why this erosion happened. FPLE's study concluded that the dam removal and drawdown "did not play a significant role"; instead, the study pointed to unstable soils, steep slopes, heavy rain, and an earthquake. Both the town and the state expressed doubts about this conclusion. Now the town has officially asked the DEP to perform its own study, and to enforce the conditions in its dam removal order that require FPLE to monitor and remediate erosion.

The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee has approved Susan Collins's request for $10 million in funding for the University of Maine's development, deployment and testing of deepwater and offshore wind turbines. The funding must now be approved by the full Senate, but the parallel House bill still lacks such an appropriation.

Wind is big in California too. It looks like Terra-Gen's Alta Wind Energy Center near Tehachapi is going forward, as it has placed an order with Vestas Wind Systems for 190 3 MW turbines. The Alta Wind project represents the largest financing of a North American wind-energy development to date. Part of the financial picture includes a 1,550 MW power purchase agreement with Southern California Edison for part of the project output. The project will have domestic economic benefits as well: Vestas will manufacture the blades in Windsor, Colorado, and most of the towers in Pueblo, CO.

A growing storm in the Gulf of Mexico has put BP's efforts at the oil well site on hold.

June 14, 2010 - Maine roundup: offshore wind, and changes at the PUC

Maine Public Utilities Commission chair Sharon Reishus will be stepping down effective July 12, 2010.  Governor Baldacci will name Commissioner Jack Cashman as Acting Commission Chairman.  In a press release, the Governor said he expects to nominate a new PUC Commissioner to be confirmed by the Legislature during a Special Session to be held later this summer.

Federal Secretary of Energy Steven Chu is visiting Maine today. He is touring the University of Maine's Advanced Structures and Composites Center, where Habib Dagher and company are design and testing floating deep-water wind turbine platforms.  This work will be supported by the $11 million bond Maine voters approved last week.

June 9, 2010 update: Maine election results, including off-shore wind bond

Maine just held elections. Voters weighed in on gubernatorial candidates (Democrats choosing Libby Mitchell, and Republicans Paul LePage), a citizens' veto of a tax reform law enacted last session, and a series of bond measures, all of which appear to have passed.

One of these bond measures touches directly on energy policy.  Question 2 addressed offshore wind energy as well as energy efficiency and infrastructure across the state's public higher education systems.

Question 2 (Bond Issue):

"Do you favor a $26,500,000 bond issue that will create jobs through investment in an off-shore wind energy demonstration site and related manufacturing to advance Maine’s energy independence from imported foreign oil, that will leverage $24,500,000 in federal and other funds and for energy improvements at campuses of the University of Maine System, Maine Community College System and Maine Maritime Academy in order to make facilities more efficient and less costly to operate?”

The Maine Secretary of State's Citizen's Guide to the Referendum Election (DOC) provides more detail on the allocation. The bond package includes:

• $11 million for "research, development and product innovation associated with developing one or more ocean wind energy demonstration sites", plus "funding for robotics equipment to accelerate wind energy components manufacturing in the State"
•  $9.5 million for energy and infrastructure upgrades at all University of Maine System campuses
• $5 million for energy and infrastructure upgrades at all Maine Community College System campuses
• $1 million for energy and infrastructure upgrades at Maine Maritime Academy

 Of these provisions, perhaps the Maine Marine Wind Energy Demonstration Site Fund is most interesting. The Fund was established by Chapter 414, Part D, Public Laws of 2009, and was amended by Chapter 645, Part C, Public Laws of 2009. The Legislature established the Fund to "provide the basic investment necessary to obtain matching funds and competitive grants and other funding from federal, state and private sources for research, development and product innovation associated with developing one or more ocean wind energy demonstration sites."

The Fund is designed to funnel money into research by the University of Maine. In fact, the definition of "research and development" enacted in Section H-1(2)(B) of the Public Law limits it to "applied engineering and scientific research and related commercial development conducted by the University of Maine", although partnerships are allowed. The Fund is administered by the University itself, on behalf of the trustees. Funds could be used to conduct siting studies for offshore wind sites, and to design, develop prototypes for, and test offshore structures, composites and components that could be manufactured in Maine.

As often seems needed in pitching a bond proposal, this one is designed to leverage matching dollars. The Secretary of State reported that it is anticipated that funds from this portion of the bond proceeds would leverage $24,500,000 in additional funds from other sources.

What does it cost? Total estimated life time cost is $33,058,750 representing $26,500,000 in principal and $6,558,750 in interest (assuming interest at 4.5% over 10 years).

Voters approved Question 2 by a 59/41 margin. 133,763 votes were cast in favor of the bond package, with only 94,016 against.

It will be interesting to see what comes out of the Maine Marine Wind Energy Demonstration Site Fund that we have all agreed to fund!

3/17/10

University of Maine President Robert Kennedy announced that he is stepping down in June 2011 to take another position within the University of Maine System -- a new position whose focus is the "greening" of the university system. Media coverage reports that President Kennedy will look at "sustainability, alternative energy and taking advantage of federal initiatives", plus the highly interesting "further business opportunities in energy fields".

The City of Ellsworth leverages $950,000 in Land for Maine's Future and other funds to defray the costs of the $2.4 million Branch Lake conservation project. Ellsworth will buy 451 acres outright, and then grant an easement to the Frenchman Bay Conservancy to protect the water quality of the lake while developing low-impact, nonmotorized public recreation. A working forest easement on 745 acres will go to the Forest Society of Maine providing for the sustainable harvest of timber. Two councilors objected to the premise that Ellsworth will issue $1,515,000 in general obligation bonds, but the motion passed 4-2 (with an abstention from a councilor who had dealt in easements on the land).

3/16/10

Maine news in brief:
Governor Baldacci names a new LURC commissioner and reappoints 6 current members. LURC is Maine's Land Use Regulatory Commission, which rules on development plans in Maine's unorganized territory -- including the proposed Plum Creek development, and wind-power projects.

University of Maine names a new distance-learning director: Curt Madison, who has served at the University of Alaska - Fairbanks. Curious to see how this fits with the University's broadband plan.

Meanwhile Portland has applied to Google to be a test site for full-penetration super-fast internet.

Maple season is here, with Governor Baldacci tapping the ceremonial first tree.

Elsewhere:
29 governors "demand" a national renewable energy standard (or renewable portfolio standard). 10% by 2012? Many states, such as Maine, are already doing more.

2/24/10: some news from Maine

Maine roundup for today

The announced closure of the Bumble Bee sardine cannery in Prospect Harbor continues to be troubling. 128 jobs to be lost. Governor Baldacci says the state will help find a new business, and could designate the cannery as a Pine Tree Zone, allowing the new owner to be exempt from 80% percent of its employee tax withholding for the next 10 years.

Tissue manufacturer Lincoln Paper and Tissue forecasts 2010 as a moderately successful period of no major investments or substantial new hiring. LP&T's CEO Keith Van Scotter has considered switching the fuel for its steam boilers from No. 2 heating oil to natural gas, but can't do so without help from state or federal government.

Landfill gas to energy: the City of Old Town, University of Maine, and Casella Waste Management have requested $3 million in federal stimulus funding to construct a 6-mile gas pipeline allowing gas from the Juniper Ridge Landfill (operated by Casella on behalf of the state) to flow to the steam plant at the university. Phase I consists of building the pipeline and upgrading the steam plant, and would significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Phase II involves building an electricity generating facility connected to the landfill by a second pipeline. These plans are tied into the nascent Maine Green Energy Alliance, an entity owned by Casella that aims to generate electricity and sell it directly to participating municipalities like Old Town. Landfill gas remains somewhat contentious, with some opposing the project on environmental and fiscal policy grounds.

Maine does have experience with the Pine Tree Landfill in Hampden, also operated (and owned) by Casella. The $10 million Pine Tree Landfill gas project commenced operation in 2008, and is projected to produce enough methane gas to power up to 3,000 homes for 15 years or more. In 2009 a similar project was launched at the Crossroads Landfill in Norridgewock.

Bangor Daily News editorial yesterday lauding Eastern Maine Electric Cooperative (EMEC) for its customer-oriented culture and low prices, noting that the customer-owned utility cut power prices by 10% last year. The editorial is careful not to bash investor-owned utilities, but hints that their profit-to-shareholder motives may result in worse rates or service than customers can get from coops like EMEC.


Elsewhere:

Bloom boxes unveiled. Lots of buzz still, relatively few details. We have learned that commercial-scale units cost $700,000 to $800,000, and that five Bloom Energy Servers deployed by EBay last July produce electricity to power space for 2,000 to 3,000 employees and cut eBay's power bill by $100,000 so far. Interestingly, EBay uses natural gas as the fuel, but plans to convert to landfill gas soon.

Iberdrola anticipates profit growth over the next three years.

The Senate continues to wrestle with the carbon bill, with carbon pricing remaining as the sticking point. Cap and trade? Cap and dividend? Carrot and stick?

01/21/10

Today the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources the full committee will receive testimony from U.S. Energy Secretary Chu on the research and development priorities/imperatives needed to meet the medium- and long-term challenges associated with climate change. It's live at 10:00 a.m.

The Bangor Daily News ran an editorial today in support of increased investment in wind energy in Maine. The editorial staff cites the recent federal grant to the University of Maine - $12.4 million from U.S. Department of Commerce for a new offshore wind turbine test lab, the Advanced Nanocomposites in Renewable Energy Laboratory. This, in combination with the $8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to create the Maine Offshore Wind Energy Research Center, will allow Maine to become a leader in offshore wind R&D. Professor Habib Dagher was clearly psyched, and Sen. Collins said the deep-water offshore wind energy industry eventually could bring in 15,000 jobs and $20 billion in investments to Maine -- and the BDN is now on board.

NYT reports that mogul T. Boone Pickens is revising his energy investment strategy, de-emphasizing wind energy, and refocusing natural gas from light passenger vehicles to commercial vehicles like semis and buses. Sounds like his wind love affair was short lived. Will he rekindle that spark?

Wisconsin is struggling with a sweeping new energy bill, including a renewable portfolio standard, tighter emissions standards for vehicles to California's levels, and open the door for new nuclear power development. Wisconsin is dependent on coal, and there is concern that this law would drive a shift toward more costly natural gas -- troubling both manufacturers who purchase power for industrial processes, and the coal industry.

North of the border: Ontario is signing a $6 billion deal with Samsung and Korea Electric Power to build and operate a 2,500 MW wind and solar power generation complex in Ontario. David Butters, president of the Association of Power Producers of Ontario, called the deal "secret" and criticized it for a lack of transparency -- and for undermining the feed-in-tariff program. Apparently Ontario has reserved 500 MW of transmission capacity for the project, which Butters described as
more than half the available transmission (capacity) in southwest Ontario."

1/11/10

Looks like despite a lack of governmental support, businesses in China are solar thermal technology -- using mirrors to concentrate light, make steam, and turn turbines to generate electricity. As usual, the story emphasizes not only the value of siting generation in China, but also the value of producing solar thermal components for sales abroad -- the classic energy/manufacturing complex that is touted for deepwater offshore wind in Maine. Commercially, up to 2,000 MW of capacity may be developed by a partnership between Californian developer eSolar and Chinese manufacturer Penglai Electric. However, the Chinese government is officially skeptical about the merits of solar thermal, on the theory that China lacks sites where there is abundant water, sun, and cheap land.

Climate change? Global warming? A number of places around the world continue to face record low temperatures, which have remained in place for weeks. NYT reports that this is the largest and most persistent Arctic high pressure system to take hold since the 1950. This Arctic high deflects the jet stream south of our latitude, bathing us in cold Canadian air.

In Maine news, we have the $9 million in RGGI grants for industrial energy efficiency projects announced last week, a $12.4 million grant for the UMaine composites lab for deepwater offshore wind research, and rebates of $1500 to $3000 to homeowners for qualifying energy audits and weatherization projects.