Abstract
The offshore wind industry has evolved both as an extension of and as an alternative to land-based wind farms in countries hindered by land scarcity or constrained by public concerns. The social and political role that offshore wind plays is similar to that of land-based wind and other renewable energy technologies, namely, that offshore wind farms bolster energy security, support greenhouse gas emission reductions and renewable energy targets, and create opportunities for new industries and jobs. However, the unique attributes of offshore wind farms, such as the greater wind energy resources they are able to capture offshore and their proximity to major coastal demand centres, have also helped to carve out a unique political, economic, and public role for the offshore wind industry.
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It should also be noted that the same year, 1887, in Cleveland, Ohio (USA), a wind-driven turbine generator produced by inventor and industrialist Charles Bush was also erected and supplied power to his home. However, Blyth’s turbine at Marykirk is widely considered to be the first wind-driven electricity generator.
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The states which were members of the EU before 2004 must collectively reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 8% between 2008 and 2012 with the exception of Poland and Hungary (6%), and Malta and Cyprus.
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Poudineh, R., Brown, C., Foley, B. (2017). Background: Role of the Offshore Wind Industry. In: Economics of Offshore Wind Power. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66420-0_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66420-0_1
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