A collective pool of wind turbines over a body of water or land is referred to as a wind farm. However, the two locations present their unique benefits. It results in safe and sustainable energy production without burning natural fuels, which are dangerously impacting climate change.
Installation Cost
You may have guessed wrong, thinking offshore wind farms are cheaper to build than conventional on-land wind turbines. Traditional wind turbines do not require complex transportation as they are transported to the location via roads. It’s a boost to the local economy with employment opportunities and infrastructure development.
Compared to onshore wind turbines, offshore wind turbines are costly to transport in the middle of the ocean via boats or other suitable heavy machinery.
They are shipped long distances with uncertain weather to remote locations. This is a lot to ask from repair workers hired by a utility bidder that experience rigid waves to monitor the turbines.
Location Restriction
When we talk about standard onshore wind turbines, they are primarily unwelcomed because of the noise pollution from cutting the wind to produce energy. Sometimes the wind turbines also disturb topography and landscape views which is unacceptable to the local community. Most of the time, the idea of a wind turbine is completely disregarded because of nature preservation.
Offshore wind turbines do not disturb the local landscape and can lead to larger wind farms because of their remoteness. However, offshore wind turbines are installed in the middle of nowhere in a remote location somewhere in the ocean. Therefore, the residents would not propose any grave resistance.
Environmental Harm
Conventional wind turbines pose a serious threat to animals and aviation species living in the same area for generations. When wind turbines are installed, it uproots the many organisms present on soil and uproots the entire food chain. Moreover, many birds and bats have also been reported to run into wind turbines.
Offshore winds do not propose the same level of danger. They may be harmful if installed on the route to migration patterns. However, scientists and researchers are still studying the impact of marine life and seabed.
Energy Capacity
Lastly, onshore wind turbines are more likely to produce less energy because of the persistent issues. Wind platters are constantly changing, and altitude can be a significant factor in irregular energy production. Sometimes, surrounding tall buildings pose obstacles that negate the use of wind turbines entirely.
There is no need to mention the obvious, but there are no skyscrapers or towering apartment buildings present at sea. The wind cannot be disturbed or blocked.
Moreover, it can be appropriately assessed using the same technology that observes hurricane movement and aerial pressure at sea. Wind over bodies of water is much more robust, which means reliable energy production for the coastal areas.
Conclusive Comment
Offshore wind farms or wind turbines are relatively a new trend being researched at a very robust rate. Since its advantages focus more on landscape and animal preservation, many countries choose to erect wind turbines at sea rather than on land.