TY - JOUR
T1 - Offshore wind transmission in the United States. A collectivist culture versus Europe's individualistic approach?
AU - Matathia, Alexander
AU - Xydis, George
N1 - Funding Information:
A backbone grid delivers various benefits for offshore wind generation. It provides a planned approach for transmission that will limit cabling, reduce environmental concerns, increase reliability, and lessen delays in permitting []. One of the benefits of a backbone grid is increased reliability. A backbone grid has more routes for power to travel instead of having a singular onshore connection point. A National Offshore Wind Energy Grid Interconnection Study (NOWEGIS) was conducted and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy from 2011 to 2014. This study discusses the various connection types available for offshore wind farms. It mentions (p. 25), “A backbone structure increases the reliability of the offshore system above the radial connections.” as well as “an alternative offshore path (e.g., an offshore backbone or offshore grid system) can help to alleviate many of the voltage issues and mitigate onshore congestion, making this a possible alternative to onshore transmission reinforcements. Offshore HVDC backbone and grid systems show the potential for increased general control of the flow of offshore wind power” (p. 26). If there are multiple connections for offshore wind power to be transmitted, it will be able to travel where demand is needed. This will help spread out the wind power to reduce transmission congestion and increase reliability [].
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston 2022.
PY - 2023/6/1
Y1 - 2023/6/1
N2 - In this paper, the benefits of an offshore wind transmission backbone grid for the east coast of the United States are discussed. It is explained why this is a more structured approach than a traditional radial grid where each wind farm project has its own export cable connection onshore. In this study, it was revealed that following an individualistic approach that Europe has followed so far in the wind offshore transmission, strategically, is more costly and time-consuming, including long-lasting permission processes. However, States by following a more collectivistic approach and by working synergistically towards implementing a backbone grid, it may be possible to reduce costs and save time.
AB - In this paper, the benefits of an offshore wind transmission backbone grid for the east coast of the United States are discussed. It is explained why this is a more structured approach than a traditional radial grid where each wind farm project has its own export cable connection onshore. In this study, it was revealed that following an individualistic approach that Europe has followed so far in the wind offshore transmission, strategically, is more costly and time-consuming, including long-lasting permission processes. However, States by following a more collectivistic approach and by working synergistically towards implementing a backbone grid, it may be possible to reduce costs and save time.
KW - backbone
KW - offshorewind transmission
KW - radial
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85128995217&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1515/ijeeps-2022-0018
DO - 10.1515/ijeeps-2022-0018
M3 - Review
AN - SCOPUS:85128995217
SN - 2194-5756
VL - 24
SP - 249
EP - 258
JO - International Journal of Emerging Electric Power Systems
JF - International Journal of Emerging Electric Power Systems
IS - 3
ER -