Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
The transmission platform, however, might house personnel for
indefinite periods of time, and this fact must be taken into account in
designing for human safety in extreme conditions. The need for person-
nel to be stationed on a centralized transmission platform will increase as
farms move farther offshore and the logistics of personnel transfer to
shore become more difficult. Designs must also address the potential
need for stationing personnel on transmission platforms during inclement
weather.
Risk to the Environment
As stated in Chapter 1, the scope of this report is limited to oversight of
structural integrity as it is affected by turbine design, fabrication, and
installation. As shown in Figure 1-1, the environmental hazards associated
with the establishment and operation of offshore wind energy facilities
are covered through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
process. These hazards include effects on birds, other wildlife, and the
seabed. An environmental assessment or environmental impact state-
ment, as required by NEPA, will be performed for each proposed offshore
project (as was done for the Cape Wind project).
The most significant risk to the environment emanating from
structural failure of an offshore wind turbine or transmission platform
involves the release of transmission fluid or other hydrocarbon-based
liquids from the wind farm structures or from the installation and ser-
vice vessels that would be navigating through an offshore wind park.
Proper design and construction of the turbine and transmission plat-
form should preclude all but minor damage due to collision with a
service vessel that is moving slowly. However, if the vessel suffered
sufficient damage, it could leak its fuel into the ocean. In the event of a
catastrophic failure of a structure or vessel, the worst-case scenario
would involve discharge into the ocean of the following amounts of
hydrocarbon-based fluids:
•
Wind turbine (5 MW), approximately 150 gallons (Cape Wind n.d.);
•
Transmission platform, approximately 40,000 gallons (Cape Wind
n.d.); and
•
Installation and service vessels, up to 500,000 gallons (see Box 4-1).
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