Hywind Scotland created the world’s first floating wind farm which currently houses five floating wind turbines measuring 253 meters (approximately 830 feet) of 6 MW. Located about 25 kilometers off Peterhead, Scotland, the Hywind Floating Wind Farm generates enough electricity for more than 30,000 homes.

This offshore wind farm is the first to float on the surface of the sea instead of being dug into the ocean floor. Each turbine is anchored to the sea surface using three 900-meter chains, weighing a total of around 440 tonnes each.

Access to deeper water means more consistent wind speeds and, therefore, greater efficiency when generating electricity. There is great global potential to develop more floating wind farms along the coasts of the windiest areas and even in deeper waters.

Many more offshore wind farms are proposed in England and Scotland to start construction within the next three to five years.

“Floating wind power has enormous potential to become a core technology for achieving climate goals in Europe and globally,†says Frank Adam, wind power technology expert at the University of Rostock in Germany.

Coastal wind farms face constant opposition from conservation groups and coastal residents for a variety of reasons. The development of floating wind farms would remedy this problem, but there are still those who are worried about new floating wind farms.

While floating wind farms have many benefits and Hywind Scotland remains the UK’s best performing offshore wind farm, many communities have raised concerns about Hywind Scotland and other offshore wind farm developments in the UK. hope to stop future projects.

Commercial fishermen have been extremely opposed to commercial scale offshore wind power as they believe that the development of floating wind farms will make it difficult, if not impossible, to fish in some areas. This problem could potentially force them into conflicts with other fishermen who refuse to share the space. This community will present significant challenges to those looking to create and develop floating offshore wind farms.

There are also financial concerns regarding the development and sustainability of offshore wind farms. The return on investment of wind turbines, the cost of developing and maintaining offshore wind farms and other financial risks are called into question as this new form of renewable energy develops and advances. Electricity produced from offshore wind is currently twice as expensive as wind turbines found closer to shore. They are three times more expensive than on land turbines. Some wonder if the cost of floating offshore wind turbines will drop enough to compete with other clean energy tactics and technologies.

Since there are several communities that oppose this new type of wind farm, steps must be taken to show these groups that they are heard and that their concerns are taken into account by the project managers.

Performing an economic impact analysis can alleviate financial concerns. In addition, the public should be made aware of the economic benefits of offshore and floating wind projects by recalling an estimate of the number of jobs created for the construction, installation, operation and maintenance of floating wind farms.

Obtaining public support should be a priority for any project facing opposition. Public Strategy Group can help you by creating impactful public affairs campaigns that will positively reach the community through intense outreach, fan engagement and persistent communication.

Al Maiorino started Public Strategy Group, Inc. in 1995. His firm has developed and managed several public affairs campaigns in a variety of industries such as games, cable television, retail development, auto racing, renewable energy and residential projects. . In addition, his company has worked on projects in twenty-seven states and three countries.