Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium

Virginia's abundant supply of offshore wind and wave energy can be tapped to generate electricity. Offshore winds specifically are stronger and steadier than winds over land. Also, there appear to be fewer environmental issues with offshore wind farms.

The VCERC wind group was asked to do relevant research and prepare a report detailing all the factors related to offshore wind farm development. Those factors include:

• wind resource
• foundation
• stakeholder concerns (shipping lanes, military areas, etc)
• sub-station locations
• turbine construction sites
• supply chain
• job creation

The report essentially will show what a wind farm off the coast of Virginia might look like, what the wind resource is, where it could be, what the environmental effects to consider are, what are the economic effects and how would it be built.

Scientists, engineers and geographers at Virginia Tech - Advanced Research Institute, Old Dominion University, Science Applications International Corporation, Paliria Energy, Norfolk State University and James Madison University are doing this research.

The research was initially divided up into three areas:

• Offshore wind power
• Mapping offshore areas
• Economic development impact

If you need more information about offshore wind farms feel free to contact one of the scientists or engineers below.

VCERC Expertise Guide- Wind

Larry Atkinson, ODU	Climantology of Coastal Waters	latkinso@odu.edu
David Basco, ODU	Coastal Engineering	dbasco@odu.edu
Shirshak Dhali, ODU	Atmospheric Pressure	sdhali@odu.edu
Jim Durand, UVA	Wind Turbine Systems	jhd6n@virginia.edu
Tal Ezer, ODU	Numerical Ocean Models	tezer@odu.edu
George Hagerman, VT-ARI		hagerman@vt.edu
Carl Hobbs, VIMS		hobbs@vims.edu
Sarah Karpanty ,VT		karpanty@vt.edu
John Klinck, ODU	Analytical/Numerical Models	klinck@ccpo.odu.edu
Eric Loth, UVA	Morphing Segmented Wind Turbine	luerssrm@jmu.edu
Remy Luerssen,JMU	Mapping	luerssrm@jmu.edu
Guillaume Martinat, ODU	Turbulent Flows	martinat@ccpo.odu.edu
Jon Miles, JMU	Wind Measurements	milesjj@jmu.edu
Ken Newbold, JMU	Research Development	newbolkf@jmu.edu
Neil Rondorf ,SAIC	Ocean Renewable Energy	rondorfn@saic.com
Matt Unger, VT		matthew.unger@vt.edu
Gary Whaley, NSU		glwhaley@nsu.edu
Tim Wilkins, Paliria		twilkins@paliria.com
James Wilson, JMU		wilsonjw@jmu.edu

wind@vcerc.org

 

Research Focus Areas: Biodiesel ~ Economic ~ Mapping ~ Wind