Symbiotic offshore energy harvesting and storage systems

Taken separately, various offshore energy harvesting and storage machines can have a difficult time competing with land-based systems with regard to both initial capital cost and variable costs. However, collocating systems in a symbiotic way can lead to competitive advantages for offshore systems. This paper explores such combinations based on using the support structure for an offshore wind turbine as a basis for an energy storage system, a wave energy harvesting system, and a uranium-from-seawater mining system. Further considerations could also include aquaculture facilities as well as enhanced sport fisherman opportunities. Finally, far offshore systems are not only less likely to negatively impact birds, such as birds-of-prey, while experience with offshore oil platforms have been shown to act as undersea wildlife havens. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.