Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

5-14-2025

Journal / Book Title

6th Annual Clean and Sustainable Energy Summit, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ.

Abstract

Globally, offshore wind (OSW) has been identified as a key technology for decarbonization. While OSW’s development timeline remains uncertain in the United States, New Jersey has set the ambitious goal of 11 GW by 2040. OSW produces zero carbon emissions; however, it relies heavily on resource-intensive materials like steel, rare earth elements, and copper, and manufacturing those materials have numerous environmental impacts, including carbon emissions. Supply chain disruptions—from COVID-19, rising material costs, and geopolitical challenges—add further complexity. Previous research modelled the environmental impacts of Atlantic Shores OSW South Project with an established domestic supply chain, producing 0.013kg CO2 per kWh. While this is a significant improvement compared to traditional fossil fuel sources, this study highlighted several areas for improvement. Building on previous work, this research explores four scenarios applying more sustainable production practices and materials to reduce the overall impact of OSW: 1. Scenario 1 (S1): Baseline case with steel produced via blast furnace–basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) and a rare earth (RE)-based permanent magnet (PM) generator. 2. Scenario 2 (S2): Steel produced via direct reduced iron–electric arc furnace (DRI-EAF) using natural gas and US grid electricity. 3. Scenario 3 (S3): S2, and replaces the tower steel with glass fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP) composite and balsa wood. 4. Scenario 4 (S4): S3, and replaces the RE-based PM generator with a ferrite-based PM generator. Results show a clear improvement in sustainability from S1 to S4, with global warming potential reduced by ~55% and mineral resources scarcity by ~75%. Switching steel production from BF-BOF to DRI-EAF cuts emissions by up to 65% and boosts resource efficiency by 70% due to increased scrap steel use. Replacing the steel tower with a GFRP composite yield modest gains in emissions and MRS. The most significant impact comes from switching RE-based magnets to ferrite-based ones, cutting emissions by 85% and nearly eliminating impact to mineral resources. Future turbine designs can leverage LCA not just to enhance sustainability, but also to optimize components for efficient resource use and potential cost savings. As technologies like composite towers and ferrite-based PMs approach commercial readiness, the offer promising opportunities to strengthen the local OSW supply chain.

Comments

Poster presented at the 6th Annual Clean and Sustainable Energy Summit, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ.

Published Citation

Pineda, J.C. & Smith, M. (2025, May 14) Reducing Emissions and Increasing Resource Efficiency in Offshore Wind Turbines [Poster presentation]. Clean and Sustainable Energy Summit, Clean Energy and Sustainability Analytics Center, Montclair, NJ, USA.

Download

Share

COinS