Shell says offshore wind is not yet technically ready

MOTORSPORT - MISCS 2008 - SHELL ECO MARATHON - NOGARO 22/05 TO 24/05/2008 - PHOTO : FREDERIC LE FLOC H / DPPI

Offshore wind technology is far less mature than it is given credit for, says Shell UK chairman James Smith, 10 months after the oil major abandoned its stake in the 1,000-megawatt London Array offshore wind farm.

Smith says renewables have a big role to play in helping the UK to meet its climate targets, but the ¬focus should be on diversifying the country’s energy mix, including a stronger push towards carbon capture and storage.

“Has offshore wind reached a level of technological maturity for the kinds of incentives it’s currently receiving?” he asks.

“The maintainability of offshore turbines is still a huge question — it’s certainly going to be far different from keeping up an onshore wind farm.

Then there are the huge implications in terms of connecting these offshore…

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