Offshore wind development has potential, but challenges remain

  • Offshore wind development has potential, but challenges remain
    Offshore wind development has potential, but challenges remain
  • Great Lakes water depths in meters. 100 meters is about 300 feet. Depths above 60m (200 ft) require floating wind turbines. Inset photo, Javad Javaherian of University of Michigan, with a floating offshore wind platform prototype (without blades) in the U-M wave tank. OCEAN DYNAMICS, INSET PHOTO TA-CHIH HUNG
    Great Lakes water depths in meters. 100 meters is about 300 feet. Depths above 60m (200 ft) require floating wind turbines. Inset photo, Javad Javaherian of University of Michigan, with a floating offshore wind platform prototype (without blades) in the U-M wave tank. OCEAN DYNAMICS, INSET PHOTO TA-CHIH HUNG

    LANSING

    The Great Lakes have abundant wind potential to supply Michigan with cost-efficient energy, but its unique challenges have stalled several promising projects.

    A new study from the University of Michigan offers potential solutions to technical, regulatory and environmental obstacles that advocates say are hampering progress.

    The study appeared in the journal Ocean Dynamics.

    Javad Javaherian, th…