Floating Wind-power Takes Shape

By Nick Kaufman

The Economist: A wind turbine called Hywind was set afloat off the coast of Norway--

a functional application of floating energy generation. Although the structure itself does float, cables attached to the sea floor are necessary for it to maintain balance. The floating structure and cables allow wind energy to be implemented in far deeper waters (and connected to the electricity grid) than currently possible. The Economist says, "One obvious drawback is that connecting deep-water turbines to the electrical grid will be expensive." How interesting it would be if the energy delivery was local (from the ocean to ocean environments as opposed to ocean - land), as in the open_sailing scenario. It would also be interesting to look at the technology behind the delivery of the cable "anchors" to the sea floor and what the concept of different kinds of 'anchors' could add to a nomadic seafaring life.