Friday, July 8, 2022
Greenrock commissions Offshore Wind Experts to accelerate Renewable Energy deployment
Bermuda’s greenhouse gas emissions need to reduce 60% by 2030 to align with international efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees centigrade. If warming exceeds this level, the risks of ocean acidification along with several other environmental threats to the island can increase significantly. It is also important to acknowledge the fact that there are communities surrounding our existing electricity generating power plant that continue to endure health, property and environmental challenges due to their proximity to fossil fuel smokestacks. Addressing this should be a matter of national interest and attempts to find solutions should be pursued with urgency.
In light of these realities, Greenrock is working hard to produce the data and research required to accelerate the deployment of affordable renewable energy. Of the various renewable technologies available to Bermuda, offshore wind and solar have consistently been identified as the most mature renewable energy technologies that are suitable to achieve this goal.
Greenrock welcomes the progress that has been made to date, by the Bermuda Government and the Regulatory Authority, in considering offshore wind as a key potential element of a sustainable, low carbon energy system for Bermuda. We now seek to build on this work and accelerate progress through working with a UK based engineering company, BVG Associates (BVGA), who have over a decade of expertise in delivering offshore wind.
Working with BVGA, we have identified a series studies, which are now instrumental in progressing an offshore wind project in Bermuda:
- An independent review of work carried out to date, including a comparison with offshore wind industry good practice, and the identification of priority actions required to help understand if offshore wind is viable for Bermuda
- A detailed cost of energy assessment, to determine with confidence the likely range of costs for electricity that could be delivered by an offshore wind farm in Bermuda
- Modeling of Bermuda's electricity system, to understand the combination of technologies that will be required to deliver an affordable, reliable and low-carbon electricity supply that contains large amounts of intermittent renewable energy
- Industry standard wind resource assessment
- Industry standard spatial assessments, to complement existing work being done in this area
- An offshore wind roadmap, outlining step-by-step how an operational offshore wind farm can be delivered in Bermuda
- If the outcome of these studies is successful, Greenrock also plans to initiate a revenue-grade (Light Detection and Ranging) LIDAR wind data collection campaign
These studies will help to determine if offshore wind is technically and commercially feasible for Bermuda, how much electricity from offshore wind is likely to cost, and assuming it is feasible they will also outline how Bermuda can deploy offshore wind in line with industry best practice.
We are pleased to announce that the first two studies have now been completed, and are available below to review.
Studies
1. Bermuda offshore wind: Key publications review and priority actions click here to view
2. Bermuda offshore wind: Levelized cost of energy assessment click here to view
Presentations
Events
Monday, October 3, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Greenrock Hosts Sponsor Forum on Offshore Wind Study Series
In its mission to raise awareness and funds to support the Offshore Wind Feasibility Study Series, developed in collaboration with UK-based Offshore Wind Experts, BVG & Associates, Greenrock will be holding a sponsor forum at the Chubb Building, from 12 pm - 2 pm, on Friday, October 7, 2022.
The forum, designed to host existing and potential supporters of Greenrock, will provide a platform to discuss the feasibility study series, why it is important for Bermuda, and the funding required to complete it in a timely manner.
Greenrock invites corporate representatives and potential private donors to attend the forum on October 7. They also encourage everyone to share this information with persons interested in accelerating the deployment of renewable energy in Bermuda.
