The largest offshore wind farm in the world | 60 Minutes

Summary

President Biden's climate bill prioritizes offshore wind power, aiming to power 10 million homes by 2030. Currently, the US lags behind Europe with only seven turbines. Critics argue they're expensive and unattractive. The video explores Grimsby, England, home to the world's largest offshore wind farm, highlighting the industry's growth, job creation, and the environmental and economic debate surrounding it.

Takeaways

• 🌐 President Biden signed a climate bill aiming to power 10 million American homes with offshore wind by 2030.
• 📊 The US has only seven offshore wind turbines compared to nearly 6,000 in Europe.
• 💰 Critics argue that offshore wind turbines are expensive to build and maintain.
• 🌬️ The Hornsea Wind Farm in England is the largest offshore wind farm in the world, with over 300 turbines.
• 👷‍♀️ Turbine technicians like Bridie Salmon service the turbines, which can be a challenging job due to weather conditions.
• 🏭 Grimsby, once a fishing town, has become a hub for Europe's clean energy movement.
• 💡 Offshore wind power is one of the cheapest forms of electricity generation in the UK.
• 🔌 The UK aims to use 100% clean or renewable electricity by 2035.
• 🌍 Offshore wind is unique for its ability to be built at a large power station scale.
• 🔍 There are concerns about the environmental impact and job creation promises of the offshore wind industry.
• 📈 Orsted plans to invest another $17 billion in wind farms and create over 300 jobs in Grimsby.

Q & A

What is the goal of the offshore wind power initiative in the United States by 2030?

The goal is to capture enough wind power to supply 10 million American homes by 2030.

How many offshore wind turbines are currently off the coast of the United States compared to Europe?

There are only seven offshore wind turbines off the coast of the United States, compared to nearly 6,000 in Europe.

What is the name of the largest offshore wind farm in the world?

The largest offshore wind farm in the world is called the Hornsea Wind Farm.

How many turbines does the Hornsea Wind Farm have and how much electricity does it generate?

The Hornsea Wind Farm has more than 300 turbines and generates enough electricity to power over 2 million homes a day.

What is the height of the wind turbines at the Hornsea Wind Farm?

The wind turbines are nearly 600 feet high, with spinning fiberglass blades roughly the length of the world's largest passenger jet.

What is the significance of the offshore wind industry to the town of Grimsby?

The offshore wind industry has created 600 jobs in Grimsby and invested over 18 billion dollars in local wind farms.

What is the role of Bridie Salmon in the offshore wind industry?

Bridie Salmon is a Turbine Technician who scales and services the turbines at the wind farm.

What are some of the criticisms against offshore wind power?

Critics say offshore wind power is expensive to build and maintain, unpredictable, and visually unappealing.

How does Ben Sykes, Vice President of Offshore Wind at Ørsted, respond to the criticism about the cost of offshore wind power?

Ben Sykes states that offshore wind power is one of the cheapest forms of electricity generation in the UK and that there is no public exposure to the costs of building offshore wind.

What is the historical significance of Grimsby in relation to the fishing industry?

In the 1970s, Grimsby hosted the largest fishing fleet in the world with 700 trawlers and was economically prosperous due to the fishing industry.

What is the current sentiment among some retired fishermen in Grimsby regarding the offshore wind industry?

Some retired fishermen express concern that the environmental impact of wind turbines hasn't been sufficiently studied and that the industry hasn't created as many jobs or reduced electricity bills as promised.