The potential of on-shore wind power in Delaware is minimal, having a potential of generating at most 22 GWh/year.[1] Delaware's principal wind potential is from offshore wind. A 2012 assessment estimates that 15,038 MW of offshore wind turbines could generate 60,654 GWh/year.[1] Delaware generated 11,522 GWh from all generating sources in 2011.[2]
2 MW of large scale wind capacity has been constructed in Delaware. A single 256-foot tall, 210-ton turbine at the University of Delaware in Lewes was built in 2010 for generating and educational purposes.[3] It produced 5 GWh of electricity in 2015.[4] There are no projects under construction, but there is a planned offshore wind power project that would produce 120 MW
The state of Delaware ran a request for proposals (RFP) during 2006-2007 that is notable as the first known RFP, world-wide, in which offshore wind power competed equally against coal and natural gas power alternatives.[5]
Proposed projects
editThe Delaware Offshore Wind Farm was a proposed project which did not advance.[6] Two other off shore wind farms are proposed for offshore Delaware, one supplying energy to Maryland[7] and the other to New Jersey.
| Wind farm | Offshore BOEM wind energy lease area | Coordinates | Capacity (MW) |
Developer/Utility | Turbines | States | Regulatory agency | Refs | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skipjack | Offshore Delaware OCS-A 0519[8] |
16.9 nautical miles-19.5 miles (31.4 km) from coast opposite area south of Indian River Outlet and Fenwick Island[9] | 26,332 acres (10,656 ha)[10] | 120MW | Ørsted | GE Wind Energy 10 12MW GE Haliade-X | MD | Maryland PSC | [11][12][13][14] | |
| Garden State Offshore Energy | Offshore Delaware OC-A 482 [8] |
opposite Rehoboth Beach between Indian River Outlet and Cape Henlopen | Ørsted | NJ | [15] | |||||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Renewable Energy Technical Potential
- ^ Electric Power Monthly February 2012 Table 5.4.B.
- ^ "Wind turbine in Lewes produces wide reaching research".
- ^ "U.S. Wind Industry Fourth Quarter 2016 Market Report". U.S. Energy Information Administration. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
- ^ "Offshore Wind Power Delaware Project".
- ^ Paul Courson (2008-07-15). "Wind farm to be built off Delaware shore". CNN. Retrieved 2022-06-10.
- ^ "Offshore wind farms could "destroy" Delaware's coastal tourism, Caesar Rodney Institute claims".
- ^ a b "Delaware Activities | Bureau of Ocean Energy Management".
- ^ "Delaware's involvement in offshore wind energy remains uncertain".
- ^ "Map of Delaware Offshore Lease Blocks" (JPG).
- ^ "Skipjack - Offshore Wind Farm Project | 4C Offshore". www.4coffshore.com.
- ^ "Offshore wind company wants to build on state parkland, offering upgrades in exchange".
- ^ Rentsch, Julia. "Taller, more distant turbines put Ocean City offshore wind projects back under state review". Delmarva Daily Times.
- ^ "Maryland PSC Gives Go-Ahead to US Wind, Deepwater Wind Projects". Offshore Wind. May 11, 2017.
- ^ "Garden State Offshore Energy - Offshore Wind Farm Project | 4C Offshore". www.4coffshore.com.
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