EU ASKS ABOUT WIND

Many questions have been raised about the much ballyhooed potential of offshore wind parks. There are questions about the windmills’ ability to stand up to the brutal offshore environment. And now these problems with intermittent transmission. It’s good to look hard at the technologies and figure out how to make them work.

EU commissions wind efficiency study
March 30, 2007 (UPI)

WHO
Researchers, on behalf of the European Union.

WHAT
A new study commissioned by the EU to assess transmission of offshore wind parks electricity to the onshore electrical grid.

WHEN
The study will last 3 years.

WHERE
EU countries on the North Sea: Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France and the UK.

WHY
Siemens’ gas-insulated underground power transmission technology will be evaluated for its ability to manage the intermittent flow of energy associated with wind parks.

QUOTES
“[The new transmission technology is] expected to help the EU meet its energy goals of efficiency and secure supply.”