OFFSORE WIND FARMS

Nowadays on shore wind farm is common solution. At the beginning of wind technology develop, landlocked localization was more advantageous due to lower cost and easier construction. Nevertheless wind in oceanic area blows stronger and more regular. Wind speed is nearly 20% higher near coast and 30-40% higher in an open ocean space. These conditions allow producing approximately 50% more power. Also annual duration of wind farm operation is longer. Onshore wind farm can operate from 1800 to 2200 h/a for regions with the best wind condition and offshore operate from 3500 to 4000 h/a. Moreover for offshore farms problem of social acceptance does not exist. These conditions allow to construct larger turbines, what relative pull down cost of investment and operation. Disadvantages of this solution are high construction cost (generally related with high cost of foundation), slightly higher operation cost, problems with corrosion and operational reliability. Offshore farms fall into two categories: near shore (in distance lower than 6km) and far shore (in distance longer than 6 km). Nowadays the most common is the first method but far shore constructions are getting in common in last years. For wind farms located in long distance from coast (more than 10km) also transmission problems.[1], [3], [6]

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