Wednesday, October 30, 2013

New DOE Report Investigates Port Readiness for Offshore Wind

As offshore wind energy develops in the United States, port facilities will become strategic hubs in the offshore wind farm supply chain, because all plant and transport logistics must transit through these facilities. Therefore, it is important that federal and state policy-makers and port authorities understand offshore wind's ports requirements when planning future investments. The U.S. Department of Energy tasked the independent consultancy GL Garrad Hassan (GL GH) with carrying out a review of the current capability of U.S. ports to support offshore wind project development and assessing the challenges and opportunities related to upgrading this capability to support the targeted growth of as many as 54 gigawatts of offshore wind installed in U.S. waters by 2030. The GL GH report and the open-access, Web-based ports assessment tool resulting from this project will aid decision-makers in making informed decisions regarding the choice of ports for specific offshore projects, as well as the types of investments that would be required to make individual port facilities suitable to function as manufacturing, installation, and/or operations hubs.
GL GH held a series of workshops, webinars, and phone conversations to gather information on ports and port use from ports officials, vessel operators, project developers, economic development interests, and other industry stakeholders around the country. Then, using a set of regional project build-out scenarios between now and 2030, they mapped out the national port infrastructure that would be required to support industry growth under the various scenarios. To facilitate a more in-depth infrastructure analysis, six ports from different geographic regions, with varied levels of interest and preparedness towards offshore wind, were evaluated by modeling a range of installation strategies and port use types to identify gaps in capability and potential opportunities for economic development. Commonalities, trends, and specific examples from these case studies are presented in the resulting report and provide a set of best practices for U.S. ports looking to support the offshore wind market. For example, the land area required for wind turbine and foundation manufacturing is substantial, particularly due to the large scale of the offshore wind components. The necessary weight-bearing capacities of the docks and large component storage areas are typically greater for offshore wind than for more conventional cargo handling. As a result, most U.S. ports will likely require soil strength improvements before they can fully support offshore wind project construction.
An important outcome of this work is the development of a Web-based port assessment tool, which allows the user to identify ports that are well-suited to specific project needs. Port operators are also able to use this tool to identify areas in which additional investments are required at their facility to support offshore wind installation and maintenance. This assessment tool is freely available to the public on the Offshore Wind Port Readiness Tool website. Read the executive summaryPDF now, which will be replaced by the full report when it becomes available.
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First U.S. Grid-Connected Offshore Wind Turbine Installed Off the Coast of Maine

Castine, Maine — On May 31, 2013, the University of Maine's Advanced Structures and Composites Center partnered with Maine Maritime Academy and Cianbro to launch a deepwater offshore floating wind turbine near Bangor. When the turbine was turned on and electricity began flowing through an undersea cable to Central Maine Power on June 13, the VolturnUS 1:8 became the first grid-connected, floating offshore wind turbine in the Americas.
The VolturnUS 1:8 is the culmination of more than 5 years of collaborative research and development conducted by the University of Maine-led DeepCwind Consortium, which is a public-private partnership funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the National Science Foundation–Partnerships for Innovation, Maine Technology Institute, the State of Maine, and the University of Maine. More than 30 additional research and industry partners, including the DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), contributed to the project.
The VolturnUS 1:8th-scale system employs a 65-foot-tall 20-kilowatt (kW) turbine with a 31.5-foot diameter rotor. This prototype will provide the University of Maine with the knowledge and experience needed to develop the full-scale VolturnUS, incorporating a 6-megawatt (MW) turbine with a 423-foot rotor. It was designed at the University of Maine, assembled at Cianbro's facility in Brewer, and is now anchored in Castine Harbor in 80 feet of water. The VolturnUS 1:8 is the second floating semisubmersible turbine support structure to be deployed in the world; plus, it uses a concrete platform instead of steel. Concrete could prove to have several advantages over traditional metal structures—one being cost.
Data acquired during the 2013 deployment will be used to optimize the design of the University of Maine's patent-pending VolturnUS system. The goal of the project is to reduce the cost of offshore wind to compete with other forms of electricity generation with no subsidies when the technology is scaled up to the commercial level.
In response to a 2010 congressional directive, DOE awarded federal funding to the University of Maine to perform research on and develop floating offshore wind turbine platforms. The primary objectives were to experimentally validate coupled aero-elastic/hydrodynamic computer models (i.e., computer models used for the design and optimization of a turbine and turbine platform system that predict structural loads, deflections, dynamics, and turbine power output under various meteorological and oceanographic conditions) developed by NREL and others for floating offshore wind turbines, and to better understand the dynamic response behavior of floating offshore wind systems.
Following this test deployment, the next step for the DeepCwind Consortium team is to build two 6-MW VolturnUS floating turbine systems to be moored off Monhegan Island in 2016. Design for these floating offshore wind platforms is currently underway, funded in part through a separate competitively-selected DOE Wind Program grant for advanced technology demonstrations for offshore wind.
Read more about the University of Maine project.
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DOE to Host a Booth at Offshore WINDPOWER

The Wind Program will be exhibiting at the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) Offshore WINDPOWER 2013 Conference & Exhibition in Providence, Rhode Island, from October 22-23, 2013. If you're attending, visit DOE's booth, #401, to learn more about the program's latest offshore wind energy research and development efforts and pick up a copy of the latest publications. DOE Wind Program representatives will be staffing the booth to answer questions and provide information to the wide range of industry stakeholders attending the conference, including industry professionals, experts, leaders, decision makers, and researchers. The full agenda and list of exhibitors are available on the AWEA Offshore WINDPOWER website.
On October 21, prior to the conference, DOE Wind Program representatives will be participating in the U.S. Offshore Wind Market and Supply Chain Workshop, which will present results from the DOE-funded annual offshore wind market report. The workshop will include discussions on trends in the global offshore wind market, supply chain opportunities, port readiness, and jobs and investment forecasts.

DOE Wind Program Project Partner Presentations at AWEA Offshore WINDPOWER Conference and Exposition

See the AWEA Offshore WINDPOWER 2013 website for more information
Agenda subject to change
TopicPresenterSessionDate/Time
 Steve Chalk — Deputy Assistant Secretary for Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of EnergyAdvancing Development Through Federal Agency Leadership10/22/2013
10:45 AM–12:15 PM
Are U.S. Ports Ready for Offshore Wind?Chris Elkinton — Head of Offshore, North America Region, GL Garrad HassanCreative Ports and Logistics Planning: Facilitating Successful Projects10/22/2013
1:45PM–3:15PM
Offshore Wind Resources and Their Load and Price CoincidenceBruce H. Bailey, President/CEO, AWS Truepower LLCThe Business Case for Offshore Wind: Demonstrating the Net Benefits10/22/2013
1:45PM–3:15PM
Ecological Baseline Studies on the Mid-Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf: Results to DateKate Williams, Wildlife and Renewable Energy Program Director, Biodiversity Research InstituteThe Learning Curve Continues: Wildlife, Permitting and Stakeholders10/22/2013
3:45PM–5:15PM
Current Understanding of Offshore Bat ActivitySteve K. Pelletier, Principal Scientist, Stantec ConsultingThe Learning Curve Continues: Wildlife, Permitting and Stakeholders10/22/2013
3:45PM–5:15PM
A Preliminary Techno-Economic Assessment of Three Floating Offshore Wind SubstructuresAaron P. Smith, Technical Analyst, National Renewable Energy LaboratoryFuture Technical Advances: What's in the Crystal Ball?10/23/2013
8:50AM–9:00AM
Advanced Control and Innovative Support Structure for Floating Offshore Wind TurbinesDhiraj Arora, R&D Manager, Alstom Power, Wind BusinessFuture Technical Advances: What's in the Crystal Ball?10/23/2013
9:00AM–9:10AM
PanelSteven Kopits, Managing Director, Douglas-WestwoodVessel and Construction Innovation: Meeting the U.S. Installation Challenge10/23/2013
2:25PM–2:40PM
PanelJose Zayas, Wind Program Director, U.S. Department of EnergyU.S. DOE Demonstration Awards: Competitive Design to Deployment10/23/2013
3:00PM–5:00PM
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Letter from the Wind Program Director

In this year's offshore wind edition of the Wind Program Newsletter, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and its  partners want to share with you all of the groundbreaking work being conducted in the area of offshore wind. Two years ago, DOE allocated $43 million to fund a variety of offshore wind research projects, many of which are now releasing results, findings, and tools that can guide and inform the development of U.S. offshore wind projects. Some of these project results, such as the new GL Garrad Hassan Ports Readiness tool, are showcased in this newsletter, and more can be found in the new online repository for DOE-funded offshore wind project results. Others still will be shared and discussed during various panels at the annualAWEA Offshore WINDPOWER Conference & Exposition in Providence, Rhode Island.
The broader U.S. offshore wind industry is gaining momentum as well, exemplified by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management completing its second competitive offshore wind lease sale to Dominion Virginia Power in September. This closely followed the first offshore wind lease sale to Deepwater Wind New England LLC for two sites off the coasts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts in July.
Finally, DOE's Advanced Technology Demonstration project partners are all well underway in their work towards developing engineering, design, and permitting plans for their proposed offshore wind demonstration projects. AWEA Offshore WINDPOWER attendees will have the opportunity to get updates from these consortia firsthand during the closing session. Attendees can also stop by the Department of Energy's booth, #401, to learn more about these projects and many others. I look forward to seeing you all there.
With warm regards,
Jose Zaya

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Sunday, October 20, 2013

China Scoops Up 220,000 Pounds Of Poisoned Dead Fish

China Scoops Up 220,000 Pounds Of Poisoned Dead Fish
Wed, 09/04/2013 - 7:59am
Louise Watt, Associated Press
BEIJING (AP) -- Authorities have scooped up around 100,000 kilograms (220,000 pounds) of dead fish they say were poisoned by ammonia from a chemical plant, environmental officials and state media said Wednesday, in a reminder of the pollution plaguing the country.
The Hubei province environmental protection department, notified of the piles of dead fish in central China's Fuhe River on Monday, pointed the finger at local company Hubei Shuanghuan Science and Technology Stock Co. Officials said sampling of its drain outlet showed that ammonia density far exceeded the national standard. The company said it wasn't going to immediately comment.
Inadequate controls on industry and lax enforcement of existing standards have worsened China's pollution problem, stemming from three decades of breakneck economic growth. High-profile incidents this year involving dead animals in rivers — not only deaths attributed to pollution but also carcasses dumped by farmers after die-offs at farms — have added to public disgust and suspicions about the safety of drinking water.
The latest incident has affected the nearby fishing village of Huanghualao, where 1,600 residents make a living from fishing, said the village's Communist Party secretary, Wang Sanqing. 
"The dead fish covered the entire river and looked like snowflakes," he said, adding that the village has 150 fishing boats and could lose up to 70,000 yuan ($11,400) per day.
The environmental department warned the public not to eat the dead fish, but said drinking water was not affected. It said it ordered the company to suspend operations and fix the pollution problem.
The official Xinhua News Agency said about 100,000 kilograms of dead fish had been cleared from 40 kilometers (25 miles) of the river, but did not cite a figure for the number of fish. The environmental department said only that "a great number of fish" had been recovered.
Associated Press researcher Yu Bing contributed to this report.
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Water Enforcement

Water Enforcement

EPA enforces requirements under the Clean Water Act (CWA) and Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). For more on EPA's enforcement process, go to Basics on enforcement.
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Clean Water Act

Wastewater Management. Under the CWA's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program, EPA regulates discharges of pollutants from municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants, sewer collection systems, and stormwater discharges from industrial facilities and municipalities. The Clean Water Action Plan targets enforcement to the most important water pollution problems.
  • Municipal Wastewater and Stormwater Management. Overflows of raw sewage and inadequately controlled stormwater discharges from municipal sewer systems can end up in waterways or cause back ups into city streets or basements of homes threatening water quality, human health and the environment. EPA is targeting large municipalities to reduce pollution and volume of stormwater runoff and to reduce unlawful discharges of raw sewage that degrade water quality in communities. Reducing raw sewage overflows and stormwater discharges is one of EPA's National Enforcement Initiatives.
    • Pretreatment. EPA enforces requirements to ensure that industries pre-treat pollutants in their wastes in order to protect local sanitary sewers and wastewater treatment plants. Industrial discharges of metals, oil and grease, and other pollutants can interfere with the operation of local sanitary sewers and wastewater treatment plants, leading to the discharge of untreated or inadequately treated pollutants into local waterways. Learn more about pretreatment.
  • Stormwater Pollution. This occurs when debris, chemicals, sediment or other pollutants from urban areas and construction sites get washed into storm drains and flows directly into water bodies. Uncontrolled stormwater discharges can pose significant threats to public health and the environment. The CWA requires that industrial facilities, construction sites, and municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) have measures in place to prevent pollution from being discharged with stormwater into nearby waterways. Reducing discharges of contaminated stormwater into our nation's rivers, streams and lakes waterways is one of EPA's National Enforcement Initiatives.
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Animal Waste and Illegally dischargeing pollutants to water. CAFOs that are not controlling their animal wastes and illegally discharging pollutants to water bodies are a serious threat to water quality and human health. Taking action to compel these operations to properly control their wastes and comply with the law is one of EPA's National Enforcement Initiatives. Learn more aboutanimal feeding operations.
Spills - Oil and Hazardous Substances. Oil spills can harm animal and plant life, contaminating food sources and nesting habitats. Petroleum oils can form tars that persist in the environment for years. The CWA prohibits oil or hazardous substance spills in quantities that may be harmful to human health and the environment and requires actions to prevent future spills.
Wetlands - Discharges of Dredge and Fill Material EPA ensures that dredged or fill material is not discharged into wetlands and other waters of the United States except as authorized by a permit issued by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. EPA investigates and inspects those discharging dredge and fill material into wetlands and other waters of the United States without a permit and pursues appropriate enforcement to ensure compliance. Learn more about wetlands.
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Clean Water Act Compliance Monitoring and Assistance

EPA works with its federal, state and tribal regulatory partners through a comprehensive Clean Water Act compliance monitoring program to protect human health and the environment by ensuring that the regulated community obeys environmental laws/regulations through on-site visits by qualified inspectors, and a review of the information EPA or a state/tribe requires to be submitted. The CWA compliance assistance program provides businesses, federal facilities, local governments and tribes with tools to help meet environmental regulatory requirements.
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Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)

Drinking Water. EPA safeguards human health by enforcing the requirements of the SDWA to ensure that the nation's public drinking water supply and its sources (rivers, lakes, reservoirs, springs, and ground water wells) are protected. Learn more about drinking water.
  • Public Drinking Water Systems. EPA ensures that public drinking water systems comply with health-based federal standards for contaminants, which includes performing regular monitoring and reporting.
  • Underground Injection Control. Underground injection is the technology of placing fluids underground, in porous formations of rocks, through wells or other similar conveyance systems. EPA ensures that underground injection wells do not endanger any current and future underground or surface sources of drinking water. EPA investigates and inspects those injecting fluids underground in violation of the SDWA and pursues appropriate enforcement to ensure compliance. Learn more about energy extraction.
  • Aircraft Drinking Water Rule. EPA is responsible for ensuring the safety of drinking water on aircraft and is working with airlines to ensure drinking water quality to include making certain that the airlines are in compliance with the recently promulgated Aircraft Drinking Water Rule.
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Safe Drinking Water Act Compliance Monitoring and Assistance

EPA works with its federal, state and tribal regulatory partners through a comprehensive Safe Drinking Water Act compliance monitoring program to protect human health and the environment by ensuring that the regulated community obeys environmental laws/regulations through on-site visits by qualified inspectors, and a review of the information EPA or a state/tribe requires to be submitted. The SDWA compliance assistance program provides businesses, federal facilities, local governments and tribes with tools to help meet environmental regulatory requirements.
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