Comments on: Wind power: A model of successful public policy? http://www.energypolicyblog.com/2012/07/02/wind-power-a-model-of-successful-public-policy/ Sustainable energy policy, more competition, better regulation, improved policies. Fri, 26 Apr 2013 06:48:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Rhonda Gilbreath http://www.energypolicyblog.com/2012/07/02/wind-power-a-model-of-successful-public-policy/comment-page-1/#comment-413470 Rhonda Gilbreath Sat, 27 Oct 2012 03:58:54 +0000 http://www.energypolicyblog.com/?p=2483#comment-413470 I agree that offshore wind is more expensive than here in the United States. With new improvements and technology with wind power, it will only improve. We need to do what we can to search for other resources for power and wind power is the way to go. If we focus on wind power, then it will only improve and get better.

]]> By: Roberto Lacal http://www.energypolicyblog.com/2012/07/02/wind-power-a-model-of-successful-public-policy/comment-page-1/#comment-379015 Roberto Lacal Tue, 24 Jul 2012 12:15:18 +0000 http://www.energypolicyblog.com/?p=2483#comment-379015 Cost of wind power.
You state that according to the International Energy Agency the “cost of onshore wind ranges from 70 to 130 US$/MWh (…). Offshore wind is even more expensive (USD 110 -130/MWh).”

Just to update this information, recent research by the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that recent technology improvements (especially for low-wind areas), lower financial and O&M costs and losses have reduced the cost of energy from wind in the US to between 58 and 82 USD/MWh.

Offshore wind in Europe and the US is much more expensive that the 110-130 USD/MWh. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) points out in its Wind Power report a world average cost of 130 to 190 USD/MWh, but projects in the UK and Germany suggest an even higher cost.

The good news is that there is a firm commitment to offshore cost reduction that is triggering technological changes such as the type of foundations, higher-voltage in-grid connections (leading to lower cable needs), etc. See the UK Carbon Trust’s Offshore Wind Accelerator for more on this.

Sources:
http://eetd.lbl.gov/ea/ems/reports/wind-energy-costs-2-2012.pdf, see page 35
http://www.irena.org/DocumentDownloads/Publications/RE_Technologies_Cost_Analysis-WIND_POWER.pdf

Regards
Roberto Lacal

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