Where is the ideal location for a US East Coast offshore grid

摘要: This paper identifies the location of an “ideal” offshore wind energy (OWE) grid on U.S. East Coast. The ideal would provide highest overall and peak-time summer capacity factor, use bottom-mounted turbine foundations (depth ≤50 m), connect regional transmissions grids from New England to Mid-Atlantic, finally, have a smoothed power output, reduced hourly ramp rates hours zero power. Hourly, high-resolution mesoscale weather model data 2006–2010 were used approximate farm output. was located in waters Long Island, York Georges Bank, ≈450 km east. Twelve candidate 500 MW farms randomly throughout that region. Four (2000 total capacity) selected for their synergistic meteorological characteristics variability. Sites which likely sea breezes helped increase factor during peak time spring months. far offshore, dominated by powerful synoptic-scale storms, included generally higher but more variable By interconnecting all 4 via versus individual interconnections, smoothed, no-power events 9% 4%, combined 48% (gross). apart, regions with resources driven both storms breezes, substantial reductions low/no-power can be made.