The EU's energy independence through the North Sea
published: 21/01/09, 06:42
A mega wind project in the North Sea to ensure Europe's energy independence
The OMA (Office for Metropolitan Architecture) and its turbulent (and brilliant) architect Rem Koolhaas have just revealed (HERE) the plans for the construction in the North Sea of a project of several offshore wind farms forming a gigantic ring complex that could produce as much energy as that supplied by the Persian Gulf to the whole of Europe. The project entitled Dubbed Zeekracht, which can be translated as "energy from the sea", therefore consists of a sort of vast "ring" formed by several wind farms near the Netherlands but which involves the participation of no less than 7 neighboring European countries (Norway, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France and England). This large offshore wind infrastructure network common to several countries could, according to its designers, provide nothing less than a total European energy independence between 2025 and 2050 (...)
http://energiesdelamer.blogspot.com/200 ... -pour.html
The potential of the North Sea is indeed huge.
The nearby sea, the Baltic has a potential of 2600 TWh. The North Sea has a much higher potential (I'm going to look for its exact potential). The HVDC networking of wind farms allows for almost continuous electricity generation. During periods of high production, part of the energy is used to pump water into Scandinavian hydroelectric dams. In times of wind failure, hydropower generation takes over (pumping / turbining efficiency = 70%).
In parallel with the electrification of the European car fleet, it is a very interesting investment because it allows a massive reduction in the import of oil.
The OMA (Office for Metropolitan Architecture) and its turbulent (and brilliant) architect Rem Koolhaas have just revealed (HERE) the plans for the construction in the North Sea of a project of several offshore wind farms forming a gigantic ring complex that could produce as much energy as that supplied by the Persian Gulf to the whole of Europe. The project entitled Dubbed Zeekracht, which can be translated as "energy from the sea", therefore consists of a sort of vast "ring" formed by several wind farms near the Netherlands but which involves the participation of no less than 7 neighboring European countries (Norway, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France and England). This large offshore wind infrastructure network common to several countries could, according to its designers, provide nothing less than a total European energy independence between 2025 and 2050 (...)
http://energiesdelamer.blogspot.com/200 ... -pour.html
The potential of the North Sea is indeed huge.
The nearby sea, the Baltic has a potential of 2600 TWh. The North Sea has a much higher potential (I'm going to look for its exact potential). The HVDC networking of wind farms allows for almost continuous electricity generation. During periods of high production, part of the energy is used to pump water into Scandinavian hydroelectric dams. In times of wind failure, hydropower generation takes over (pumping / turbining efficiency = 70%).
In parallel with the electrification of the European car fleet, it is a very interesting investment because it allows a massive reduction in the import of oil.