In todays Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):<\/p>\n
The Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB): A daily technical, financial, and political review\/analysis of important green energy news.<\/p>\n
Norwegian oil giant Equinor has gotten the go-ahead from Norways Ministry of Petroleum and Industry to build and operate the Hywind Tampen floating offshore wind farm in the North Sea.<\/p>\n
Now, heres the twist: This new offshore wind farm will be powering the Snorre and Gullfaks offshore oil and gas platforms. Its a world first. (Writers note: Yes, Im trying to get my head around the concept of renewables to power fossil fuels, too, in case you think its just you.)<\/p>\n
Hywind Tampen will feature 11 8MW wind turbines and will be situated around 140km (87 miles) from shore, between the two fossil-fuel platforms. The wind farm will generate 88MW of energy that will meet about 35% of the annual power demand of the oil and gas platforms.<\/p>\n
Equinor Norway development and production executive vice-president Arne Sigve Nylund said [via Power Technology]:<\/p>\n
Hywind Tampen is a pioneering project and a central contribution to reducing emissions from Gullfaks and Snorre, and I am pleased that both ESA and Norwegian authorities have approved the project.<\/p>\n
A Harvard University study at the T.H. Chan School of Public Health, which was updated on April 5, has confirmed that there is a direct correlation between long-term exposure to air pollution and a higher coronavirus death rate.<\/p>\n
This study is the first to confirm a statistical link between coronavirus deaths and air pollution something public health officials and environmentalists already surmised.<\/p>\n
The studys background states that the majority of pre-existing conditions that increase the risk of death for coronavirus are the same diseases that are affected by long-term exposure to air pollution. They investigated whether long-term average exposure to fine particulate matter, which is caused by fossil fuels and vehicle emissions, increases the risk of COVID-19 deaths in the US.<\/p>\n
The researchers collected data for about 3,000 US counties (98% of the population) for 17 years, up to April 4, 2020.<\/p>\n
An increase of one microgram of fine particulates per cubic meter is associated with a 15% increase in the coronavirus death rate. Breathing in fine particulates damages the lungs over time, making it harder for the body to fight respiratory infections.<\/p>\n
The study concluded:<\/p>\n
A small increase in long-term exposure to PM2.5 [fine particulate matter] leads to a large increase in COVID-19 death rate, with the magnitude of increase 20 times that observed for PM2.5 [fine particulate matter] and all-cause mortality. The study results underscore the importance of continuing to enforce existing air pollution regulations to protect human health both during and after the COVID-19 crisis.<\/p>\n
Harvard study researcher Xiao Wu said [via the Guardian]:<\/p>\n
We should consider additional measures to protect ourselves from pollution exposure to reduce the COVID-19 death toll.<\/p>\n
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) reports that more than 80% of US voters favor offshore wind energy, with widespread support coming from both Republicans and Democrats and every demographic group across the country, according to a national survey conducted by Public Opinion Strategies from March 16 to 19, 2020.<\/p>\n
85% of all voters think wind energy is a clean, renewable, and affordable power source of the future, including 80% of Republicans. GOP voters support offshore wind energy for slightly different reasons than Democrats: They cite well-paying, stable jobs and improved economic revitalization for port communities\/coastal states.<\/p>\n
Further, voters from Gen Z to Millennials to Gen X and Boomers all express 83% to 88% favorability in their support for offshore wind.<\/p>\n
AWEA CEO Tom Kiernan said:<\/p>\n
Republicans and Democrats alike see offshore wind as playing a key role in the nations future energy portfolio, providing tremendous economic and environmental benefits and helping stabilize the cost of electricity.<\/p>\n
Photo: Equinor illustration of Hywind<\/p>\n
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EGEB: A world first: Offshore oil and gas platforms to be powered by wind - Electrek<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In todays Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB): The Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB): A daily technical, financial, and political review\/analysis of important green energy news. Norwegian oil giant Equinor has gotten the go-ahead from Norways Ministry of Petroleum and Industry to build and operate the Hywind Tampen floating offshore wind farm in the North Sea. Now, heres the twist: This new offshore wind farm will be powering the Snorre and Gullfaks offshore oil and gas platforms. Continue reading