With roughly 12,383 miles of coastline , the US has plenty of potential installation sites for seaward steer farm . Floating data point ingathering centers like the one shown above will assist energy companies and governing agencies alike find the windy , and most effectual locations along America ’s shores .
Since wind farm technology has really only come into its own over the retiring ten or so , there is n’t a whole lot of actionable meteorological data useable to examine where to put array in purchase order to generate the most energy . Scientists know which style the wind blows , obviously . elaborated information about how hard and how consistent these gust are at the specific heights of turbines for any given location along the coast on the other helping hand , just does n’t live . Yet .
A pair of 20,000 pound , route - gang yellow buoy are being build to change that . commission by the Department of Energy ’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory at a price of $ 1.3 million from each one , these rafts are packed with solar - powered sensing element equipment to measure and track everything from air temperatures and barometric atmospheric pressure to roll height and water system conductivity . They ’re even outfitted with LIDAR and acoustical Doppler sensors to register submersed current patterns . These readings will provide researchers a holistic view of the area , how the waves and steer interact , and whether the atmospheric condition are ripe for fructify up an offshore farm .
The two buoy are ready to begin scouting two potential wind farm fix — one in Coos Bay , OR , the other at Virginia Beach , VA — in November . Should the yoke prove successful , they may presently act as harbingers of forthcoming wind regalia initiation . [ PNNL ]
Green Energy
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