Cambridge University’s site informs that a preliminary study has been undertaken at the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM), which indicates that payback ratios for offshore wind farms could be increased twofold if manufacturers adopted new methods for building the structures that support the turbines.
Jim Platts, Cambridge University’s engineer at the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM) says that the offshore wind sector could achieve 100% more in energy payback efficiency if turbine manufacturers used towers which are held in place by steel cables. Also, the towers should be made of composite materials instead of free-standing ones usually made of steel.
[mappress]
Offshore WIND staff, August 20, 2012; Image: NoreqActa