Resource and Load Compatibility Assessment of Wind Energy Offshore of Humboldt County, California

Christina Ortega, Amin Younes, Mark Severy, Charles Chamberlin and Arne Jacobson
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Christina Ortega: Schatz Energy Research Center, 1 Harpst St, Arcata, CA 95521, USA
Amin Younes: Schatz Energy Research Center, 1 Harpst St, Arcata, CA 95521, USA
Mark Severy: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 1100 Dexter Ave. N, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
Charles Chamberlin: Schatz Energy Research Center, 1 Harpst St, Arcata, CA 95521, USA
Arne Jacobson: Schatz Energy Research Center, 1 Harpst St, Arcata, CA 95521, USA

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 21, 1-27

Abstract: Floating offshore wind is being considered in northern California as indicated by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s issuance of a lease consideration in the Humboldt Call Area. Humboldt County offers access to this enormous resource, but local electric load and transmission are limited. The potential impacts of offshore wind generators at three different scales were studied using a regional grid model of Humboldt County. Offshore wind generation was calculated using modeled wind speed data and 12-MW turbine specifications and integrated with projected load and historical generation. Offshore wind farms deployed in the Humboldt Call Area achieve annual capacity factors between 45% and 54% after losses and maintenance. Power output is variable between and within seasons, with full power output 30% of the time and no output approximately 20% of the time. Electricity from a 48-MW wind farm provides 22% of regional load with limited exports. A 144-MW wind farm serves 38% of local load, exporting 40% of its electricity with the extant 70-MW transmission capacity. A full build-out of 1836 MW would result in 88% curtailment with existing transmission. Across scenarios, offshore wind variability necessitates reliance on existing power plants to meet local demand in periods of low wind.

Keywords: renewable energy; offshore wind; turbine; floating platform; transmission; losses; generation; load; power; model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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