This document discusses a multi-stage screening process for siting wind farms in Rhode Island coastal waters using marine spatial planning tools. The process involves two tiers: Tier 1 screens for adequate wind resources and excludes areas based on hard constraints. A Technology Development Index is also calculated based on the technical challenge to power production potential to further screen sites. Tier 2 screens for ecological and human use impacts. Maps and data on wind resources, technology challenges, oceanography, and ecology are presented to inform the siting process. The marine spatial planning approach is concluded to be effective for comprehensive, inclusive, and consistent planning for offshore renewable energy facilities.
Siting of Wind Farms in RI Coastal Waters: Wind Resources and Technology Development Index- Spaulding
1. Siting of Wind Farms in RI Coastal
Waters:
Wind Resources and Technology
Development Index
Malcolm L. Spaulding
Ocean Engineering, University of Rhode Island
Workshop Applying Coastal Marine Spatial
Planning to Energy Siting
May 23-25, 2011
2. Goal:
Develop and implement an open,
transparent , objective procedure for
selecting the location of an offshore
renewable energy facility that
maximizes power production, and
minimizes cost and environmental and
human use impacts.
3. Multi-Stage Screening Process
Using Marine Spatial Planning Tools
1 st Tier –
Hard constraints (irreconcilable difference in uses)
System optimization: power production vs technical
challenge (cost).
2 nd Tier –
Ecological and human use impacts
4. Tier #1 Screening (Hard Constraints)
Wind Resource
Adequate Wind Resources ( greater than 7 m/sec at 80 m, hub
height) or similar for other ocean energy sources (≥1.5 m/sec
currents, ≥ 10 kW/m waves)
Exclusions
Navigation areas -regulated ( shipping lanes, precautionary
areas, preferred routes)
Vessel tracks ( AIS data)
Ferry routes
Regulated areas ( disposal site, military areas, unexploded
ordnance, marine protected areas)
Airport buffer zones
Coastal buffer zone ( 1 km)
Cable Areas (?)
5. Tier #1 Screening (cont’d)
Technology Development Challenge
Water depth range, dependent on technology
Mono-piles -
5 to 25 to 30 m
Lattice jacket/tripod -
30 to 60 m
Floating –
60 to 1000 m
16. Technology Development Index
Objective: Develop a metric based on technical
challenge to power production potential to screen for
sites.
TDI = TCI/PPP
where TDI –Technology Development Index
TCI- Technical Challenge Index
PPP- Power Production Potential
Presented in form of dimensionless values (predicted TDI
divided by lowest TDI possible in area of interest)
50. Conclusions
• Ocean SAMP very effective approach to planning for and
siting offshore renewable energy facilities: comprehensive,
inclusive, cost effective, and consistent with state and
federal regulatory framework.
• Marine spatial planning (MSP) powerful tool to assist in
siting decisions and assessing tradeoffs (new tools:
technology development index, ecosystem valuation
approaches(in progress))