Offshore wind energy is clean and renewable energy that harnesses the force of the wind produced on the high seas, where it reaches a higher and more constant speed than on land due to the absence of natural or human-created barriers.
1. Onshore Substation:
Transforms the voltage used to transmit the power from the wind turbine generator to meet the voltage required to connect to the electric grid. The power is then placed on the electric grid by a switching station.
2. Onshore Export Cables:
Transmits power from the transition joint bay to the onshore substation.3. Transition Joint Bay (TJB):
An underground vault that separates subsea export cables to onshore export cables. The TJB has a manhole cover for access.4. Subsea Export Cables:
Offshore export cables buried beneath the seabed to transmit power from the electrical service platform to the transition joint bay.5. Electrical Service Platform (ESP):
The ESP, located within the lease area, collects power from the inter-array cables and transforms power to subsea export cables.6. Inter-Array Cables (IAC):
Subsea cables linking offshore wind turbines to one another and to electrical service platform.7. Offshore Wind Turbine Generator (WTG):
Captures kinetic energy from the wind to turn into electricity.Advantages of Offshore Wind
Inexhaustible Clean Energy
Electricity produced from clean, abundant wind resources helps displace sources produced by burning fossil fuels to reduce emissions, improve air quality, and create a cleaner environment.
Benefits to Marine Ecosystems
The physical infrastructure for offshore wind projects like Kitty Hawk Wind provides valuable reef habitat, benefiting marine ecosystems.
Efficiency of Power Generation
Offshore wind speeds tend to be more consistent than those over land, and the ability to use larger turbines will enable Kitty Hawk Wind to efficiently deliver reliable clean energy to customers.
Workforce Opportunities
The American Clean Power Association estimates that there could be 83,000 jobs in the U.S. offshore wind industry by 2030.1 Offshore wind brings significant opportunity to leverage Hampton Roads’ highly skilled maritime workforce as well as transferrable skills from construction, trades, manufacturing, and other service-related sectors to transition to careers in the industry.
