Turbines in Trouble: Offshore Energy Woes Threaten a Pollution-Free future

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As the world’s oil companies, now even more encouraged by the victory of President-elect Trump, have adopted a “drill baby drill” business plan, green energy has become progressively a more minor part of the energy future.

In particular, while they have had some success in China and Europe, offshore wind installations have struggled, and the risks of projects are high enough that financing has become expensive.

According to Reuters, “After a year of canceled projects, broken turbines and abandoned lease sales, the global offshore wind industry no longer has much chance to hit the lofty targets set by governments in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere, marking a setback for efforts to fight climate change.”

Projects killed
BP recently sold its offshore wind business and Danish wind developer Orsted, the biggest in the sector, has killed two projects. Meanwhile, after a wind turbine accident last summer, the federal government shut down a wind farm off Massachusetts. All are a sign of the sector’s challenges.

Wind energy accounts for about 10% of power generated in the U.S., but at present most turbines are on land, unlike in China and Europe, where offshore installations are a major energy source.

This needs to change. As AI server farms and Bitcoin mining grow, America’s electricity needs have started to soar, meaning that every green source is vital if climate change is to be reversed, whether it be solar, nuclear or wind energy. If not, fossil fuels will take up the slack, to the detriment of the planet.