Wind power around the world is exploding and growing exponentially. The United Kingdom has built masses of wind farms on its isles but is now moving to build them offshore. Now wind power accounts for around a quarter of the UK's power grid and that is growing every year. In so doing, the seas around Britain are in a state of transformation.
A more common electricity station in the United States to visit is the massive Hoover Dam just outside of Vegas - it is a great example of 1930s engineering. The world is always in a state of change, in the UK almost all the coal plants have shut down permanently. The abandoned former coal-mining town of Thurmond in West Virginia stands as a stark contrast to the new gleaming wind farms being built around the world.
The Transformation of The North Sea And Coasts Of The UK
The seas around the UK are being transformed into forests of Wind Farms. Is this the future of coastal areas including the United States?
The UK is known as one of the best locations for wind power in the world and is the best in Europe. If one visited the waters around the UK 10 years ago, one may not recognize them today and certainly not by the end of the decade.
- Number: The UK Has 11,091 Wind Turbines
- 2030: The UK's Coasts Will Be Lined With Forests Of Wind Turbines
Currently, the UK has more onshore capacity, than offshore capacity, but forces are in motion to dramatically change that. Already the seas around Great Britain are sprouting turbines and that is set to quadruple by the end of the decade in a bid to have 40 GW of capacity in 2030 - up from around 10GW today. It was only 1GW of offshore capacity in 2010.
Wind energy has become one of the UK's most prized industrial success stories.
Some people like the sight of eco-friendly wind farms, while others consider it an eye-sore. But whatever one's thoughts, it's certainly transforming the North Sea.
Offshore Wind Farms In The United States
When it comes to offshore wind farms, the United States is a bit of a laggard, but that is set to change in the coming years. The vast majority of wind power in the USA is on land, but the first major offshore wind farm is underway off the coast of Massachusetts.
- USA: Behind In Offshore Wind
The 800 megawatt (MW) Vineyard Wind 1 project is set to be “the first large-scale, offshore wind project in the United States” and will provide enough power for 400,000 homes and businesses.
- First Major US Offshore Wind Farm: Approved In 2021 For Massachusetts
According to CNBC, the Departments of Energy, Interior and Commerce want offshore wind capacity to hit 30 gigawatts (GW) by 2030. While trailing behind the European countries, that will start to transform parts of the American coastline.
While one can see wind farms sprouting up all over the United Kingdom (especially around the Doggerbank in the North Sea), the transformation in the United States is likely to be more localized.
- Location: Particularly The New England Coast
- 2030: Parts of The New England Coast May Look Very Different
In particular, one can expect the off-shore wind farms to start rising out of the sea on the Eastern Sea Board around the New England coast.
Offshore Wind Farm Tours In Southern England
Believe it or not, offshore wind farm tours are becoming a thing! At a distance, the turbines may seem small, but these are the giants of the seas and are very impressive up close.
One can tour the Rampion Wind Farm in England on board the Brighton Drive 4 - a fast ultra-stable 1300hp catamaran with 360-degree viewing and a heated inside cabin. There are other options as well in slower (and cheaper tours of the Rampion wind farm).
- Rampion Wind Farm: Has 116 Wind Turbines
- Wind Farm Size: 70 Sq Kilometers
They have been operating trips from 1st January 2022 and as a bonus one gets to see a panoramic view of England’s “South Coast Riviera.”
These tours enable one to get up close and personal with the gigantic turbines standing 150 meters (500 feet) high. One may even see the jack up ships, whose hulls rise out of the water as they assemble each of the windmills.
- Duration: The Tours Last 2-3 Tours (Depending On The Tides)
- Departure Times: Normally 9.00 am, 12.00 pm, or 3.00 pm
- Days: Saturdays and Sundays (Some Weekdays)
- Price: £40 ($53) Per Person or £400 ($530) For A Private Charter
Touring offshore wind farms may not have been the sort of tour that had been on one's bucket list, but if they are now offered in the United Kingdom, they are sure to be coming to the United States in due time.