According to a recent report by the well-known American financial media CNBC, the first offshore wind farm in U.S. history has officially connected to the grid and commenced operations. This is a milestone in the history of wind energy development in the United States.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Offshore Wind Farms

Offshore wind farms are a concept that contrasts with onshore wind farms. Onshore wind farms have a long history, dating back to the 1930s; whereas offshore wind farms, due to their construction in near-sea areas, have higher technical difficulties and only began to enter the public eye by the end of the 20th century.

Compared to onshore wind farms, the disadvantages of offshore wind farms are quite obvious, reflected in the high costs: not only are the construction costs high, but maintenance costs are also elevated. However, the advantages of offshore wind farms are equally clear, mainly in the following two aspects: first, they are built in near-sea areas, thus do not occupy any land resources; second, they are unobstructed, providing richer wind resources.

Block Island Offshore Wind Farm in the United States

This offshore wind farm in the United States is located in Rhode Island, near the Atlantic Ocean. About one-tenth of the state is covered by seawater, and it has over 650 kilometers of coastline, earning it the nickname "Ocean State." The area's abundant wind resources are a key factor in the state becoming the first in the U.S. to develop an offshore wind power station.

This offshore wind farm in Rhode Island is located in the tourist destination of Block Island, with a total installed capacity of 30MW. The project has constructed 5 giant offshore wind turbines, each with blades measuring 76 meters long. The project is a collaboration between the renowned GE Energy and wind power operator Deepwater Wind, and in the coming years, it will supply over 90% of the electricity for Block Island.

Rhode Island Governor Gina M. Raimondo stated to the media, "As the site of the first offshore wind farm in the United States, Rhode Island is very honored. As an Ocean State, we have an inexhaustible supply of renewable energy."

Overview of Wind Power in the United States

In fact, since 2008, the development speed and scale of wind power in the United States have ranked among the top in the world. Although it has been surpassed by China in recent years, it still ranks second globally. Taking the wind power growth data from 2015 as an example, according to data provided by the China Industry Information Network, in 2015, China held the top position in the world with a market share of 33.6%, while the United States ranked second with 17.2%.

However, compared to European countries, the development of offshore wind power in the United States lags far behind. As early as 1991, Denmark had built the world's first offshore wind farm; since then, Europe has maintained an absolute leading advantage in the offshore wind power market. According to reports from the China Securities Journal, in 2014 alone, the total installed capacity of offshore wind power in Europe accounted for 90% of the global share.

Regardless, in the eyes of the reporter, the official operation of the Block Island offshore wind farm represents a substantial step forward for the United States in the field of offshore wind power.