Premium
Large CO 2 reductions via offshore wind power matched to inherent storage in energy end‐uses
Author(s) -
Kempton Willett,
Archer Cristina L.,
Dhanju Amardeep,
Garvine Richard W.,
Jacobson Mark Z.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2006gl028016
Subject(s) - offshore wind power , environmental science , wind power , greenhouse gas , fossil fuel , submarine pipeline , meteorology , petroleum , electricity , geology , oceanography , engineering , waste management , geography , paleontology , electrical engineering
We develop methods for assessing offshore wind resources, using a model of the vertical structure of the planetary boundary layer (PBL) over water and a wind‐electric technology analysis linking turbine and tower limitations to bathymetry and continental shelf geology. These methods are tested by matching the winds of the Middle‐Atlantic Bight (MAB) to energy demand in the adjacent states (Massachusetts through North Carolina, U.S.A.). We find that the MAB wind resource can produce 330 GW average electrical power, a resource exceeding the region's current summed demand for 73 GW of electricity, 29 GW of light vehicle fuels (now gasoline), and 83 GW of building fuels (now distillate fuel oil and natural gas). Supplying these end‐uses with MAB wind power would reduce by 68% the region's CO 2 emissions, and reduce by 57% its greenhouse gas forcing. These percentages are in the range of the global reductions needed to stabilize climate.