A Funding Proposal for the USDA High Energy Cost Grant Program

Prepared for United States Department of Agriculture

Rural Development Board

By

Robert Healy

November 2017

Table of ContentsInformative Abstract

Introduction

Overview

Background

Problem Statement

Scope

Proposed Plan

Methods

Wind turbine support structure

Turbine construction

Power Transmission

Conclusion

Informative AbstractResidents of an island town located in Rhode Island are being forced to pay exorbitantly high prices for their electricity. It is the intent of this company to alleviate the burden placed on the residents of the island by providing green renewable energy. This will be accomplished by provided a number of wind driven turbines.

The wind driven turbines will utilize natural occurring coastal winds to generate electricity. This electricity will be transmitted back to the island via underground cabling. A second cable will also be run to the main land to maximize the energy harvested by the turbines. The secondary cable will also provide an alternative energy source to the island in the event the turbines are not operational.

A detailed breakdown of the turbine construction, foundations, and support structure is contained below. Compared to the existing diesel generator on the island this new proposed energy source will allow the island to generate energy in a much cleaner fashion.

IntroductionOverviewBlock Island residents are paying exorbitantly high prices for their electricity. Energy cost are continuing to increase as time goes on. As it stands residents of the island are paying up to four times the cost of non – island dwelling Rhode Islanders. The follow proposal will outline a plan to provide the island with renewable energy generated from an off shore wind turbine array.

BackgroundBlock Island currently generates the power required for residents to live on the Island by burning diesel in a diesel turbine generator. This diesel must be delivered to the island via barge. As the Island has continued to develop the need for more and cheaper electricity has also grown. Also with the latest energy standards it is no longer feasible to operate the diesel generator all day every day.

Problem StatementRising energy cost have resulted in a disproportionate energy cost for island residents. It has been reported that energy cost on the island have been three to four times greater than off of the island. This is a result of how the energy is being created. Millions of gallons of diesels are being shipped to the island yearly. The diesel is being consumed by a diesel turbine generator. This generator mixes fuel with air to create a controlled combustion reaction. This reaction drives a turbine which in turn powers the generator which generates the electricity.

ScopeBlock Island is in need of a renewable energy source to reduce / eliminate the need to burn diesel fuel to generate electricity. This proposal will outline the addition of a wind turbine Array off the coast of block island. This wind turbine array will transmit power back to the island via under water cable.

Figure 1: Ocean Turbine Supports

Proposed planThis plan is designed to power Block Island with renewable green energy.

MethodsThe wind turbine and rotary blade assemblies will be installed atop large steel towers. Those towers shall be installed upon foundations; the foundations will sit on the ocean bottom. The diameter of the rotary blade assembly will be approximately 492 feet. The foundations shall be designed to withstand a 1,000-year storm event and shall rest on the ocean bottom nearly 192 feet below the ocean surface.

Wind turbine support structureThe wind turbines shall be supported by a traditional “jacket” foundation. This foundation is similar to a radio tower. The three main support legs shall be twisted around a central support column. This will result in an easier construction and more cost effective approach. Each structure will be up to 108 feet tall and weigh almost 380 tons. The platform will add additional height nearly 50 feet and 340 tons of additional weight. Dozens of transport barges, tugboats, and other open ocean vessels will be required to complete the installation.

Turbine construction(5) 6-megawatt Haliade 150 wind turbine shall be installed, providing more than 125,000 MW-hours of power annually. These turbines shall be equipped with blades manufactured by LM Wind Power. The blades shall be built in Denmark and shipped across the Atlantic Ocean via barge. The turbine also features a helipad allowing for easy maintenance and safe cost effective operator transport.

Figure 2: Turbine

Figure 3:Turbine Cross Section

Power TransmissionThe power generated by the turbine array will need to be transmitted back to the island residents. This will be accomplished by running a 6.5-mile submarine cable connecting block island to the turbine array. In addition to the for mentioned cable an additional 17-mile cable sub surface cable will be installed to allow excess power to be transmitted back to the main land. This secondary line will also allow the mainland to send power to the island in the event the wind turbines cannot operate.

Sub Surface CableThese cables are rated for a nominal voltage rating of 34 kV, and have a burial depth of 1.8 meters. In order to properly install the subsea cable a custom built dynamically positioned barge shall be developed and constructed. This barge will be 260’x72’x16’ and utilize (6) 500 HP thrusters for propulsion to precisely lay and bury the sub surface cable. It is expected to take approximately 2 months to lay and bury the cables.

Figure 4:Power Transmission Cable

Figure 5:Power Transmission Cable Cross Section

Conclusion

As a leader in clean energy generation we are asking you to consider Block Island as a candidate to receive the funds allocated to reduce the burden of high energy cost. Its’ our belief that the island and its residents will continue to benefit from the green energy generated from the wind powered turbines.

Every year the island continues to operate the diesel generators the residence shall continue to be burden with excess energy cost. The environment around the island will continue to be polluted with the exhaust generated by those diesel generators, and the bay / ocean will continue to be exposed to the potential for a diesel spill. In the event of a diesel spill the local power company would be tasked funding the clean-up effort. The cost associated with a diesel spill could be astronomical. Recent examples of oil / fuel spills have been extremely costly to the environment and institutions associated with the spill. Spills in the open ocean are extremely difficult and expensive to contain because the ocean movement is constantly dissipating the oil / fuel, spreading thinner and thinner encompassing a larger footprint.

Figure 6: Ocean Diesel Spill

References

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RICHARD THOMPSON | rthompson@theadvocate.com. (2015, September 19). Two Louisiana

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WIND PRODUCT SOLUTIONS. (n.d.). Haliade™ 150-6MW Offshore wind turbine. Retrieved from

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