whatyareckon

If reducing CO2 emissions is the justification for industrializing the ocean with offshore wind, then we need to know what the cost per ton of CO2 reduction is. This number is likely to be ridiculously large, on the order of thousands of dollars a ton.

We have already discussed the reduction analysis part, finding that the reductions are likely to be relatively small per MW of wind generating capacity. See my https://www.cfact.org/2023/05/31/offshore-wind-may-not-reduce-co2-emissions/.

On the cost side, offshore wind is already very expensive, but it is bound to get much worse. The global stampede to build huge numbers of industrial wind-generating facilities is widely predicted to strain the supply chain seriously. The inevitable result will be shortages and price spikes.

There is growing technical literature on this supply chain shortages issue. However, so far, it seems to be focused mostly on the material and facility…