Offshore wind power could transform our grid, but it comes with challenges
As we search for solutions to our energy crisis, wind power may be a potential answer.
An offshore wind farm. Picture: © macsim/123rf.com
Crystal Orderson speaks to Alessandra Pardini, Partner at international law firm Allen & Overy.
Listen to the interview in the audio below.
Wind power could help diversify our energy supply and help us steer away from coal and alleviate loadshedding.
Having strategically placed wind farms in areas such as Saldanha, Cape Town, Hermanus and Mossel Bay could add a significant amount of power to our grid.
The World Bank estimates that South Africa could produce up to 901GW of power from both floating and fixed seabed-mounted offshore wind.
Pardini says that South Africa has a well-developed onshore wind market, and developing the offshore wind market could produce more energy than we currently have on our grid.
“2000% more than what we currently have could be generated by offshore wind power.”
- Alessandra Pardini, Partner at international law firm Allen & Overy
Firstly, we have a very short coastal shelf which makes it almost impossible to install fixed wind turbines.
There could also be challenges connecting floating turbines to our grid.
Concerns have been raised about disrupting the ocean ecosystems and shipping operations.
“We have to do a little bit more work to understand if this would work on our shores.”
- Alessandra Pardini, Partner at international law firm Allen & Overy