Seeking_VVG Wind_NN1 Energy_NN1 ,_, Some_DD Consider_VV0 the_AT Sea_NN1 LAST_MD June_NPM1 in_II a_AT1 fjord_NN1 in_II southwestern_JJ Norway_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 213-foot-tall_JJ wind_NN1 turbine_NN1 did_VDD something_PN1 large_JJ wind_NN1 turbines_NN2 normally_RR do_VD0 n't_XX do_VDI :_: it_PPH1 headed_VVD out_RP to_II sea_NN1 ._. 
Towed_VVN by_II tugboats_NN2 ,_, the_AT newly_RR built_VVN turbine_NN1 ,_, with_IW three_MC 139-foot_JJ rotor_NN1 blades_NN2 and_CC a_AT1 2.3-megawatt_JJ generator_NN1 atop_II the_AT tower_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ itself_PPX1 was_VBDZ bolted_VVN to_II a_AT1 ballasted_JJ steel_NN1 cylinder_NN1 extending_VVG more_DAR than_CSN 300_MC feet_NN2 below_II the_AT waterline_NN1 ,_, made_VVD its_APPGE way_NN1 to_II a_AT1 spot_NN1 six_MC miles_NNU2 off_II the_AT coast_NN1 ._. 
Once_RR in_II position_NN1 it_PPH1 was_VBDZ moored_VVN with_IW cables_NN2 to_II the_AT seafloor_NN1 ,_, about_RG 700_MC feet_NN2 below_RL ._. 
The_AT project_NN1 ,_, called_VVN Hywind_NP1 and_CC owned_VVN by_II Statoil_NP1 ,_, the_AT giant_JJ oil_NN1 and_CC gas_NN1 company_NN1 based_VVN in_II Stavanger_NP1 ,_, Norway_NP1 ,_, is_VBZ the_AT world_NN1 's_GE first_MD full-scale_JJ floating_JJ wind_NN1 turbine_NN1 ._. 
After_II being_VBG hooked_VVN up_II21 to_II22 a_AT1 transmission_NN1 cable_NN1 ,_, it_PPH1 began_VVD supplying_VVG electricity_NN1 to_II the_AT Norwegian_JJ power_NN1 grid_NN1 on_II Sept._NPM1 21_MC ._. 
"_" We_PPIS2 've_VH0 been_VBN baby-sitting_VVG the_AT turbine_NN1 so_RG far_RR ,_, "_" said_VVD Sjur_NP1 Bratland_NP1 ,_, asset_NN1 manager_NN1 for_IF the_AT project_NN1 ._. 
"_" The_AT main_JJ point_NN1 for_IF us_PPIO2 is_VBZ not_XX to_TO produce_VVI as_RG much_DA1 power_NN1 as_CSA possible_JJ ._. "_" 
Rather_RR ,_, Mr._NNB Bratland_NP1 said_VVD ,_, over_II the_AT next_MD two_MC years_NNT2 Hywind_NN1 will_VM test_VVI the_AT feasibility_NN1 of_IO what_DDQ some_DD people_NN think_VV0 may_VM be_VBI the_AT next_MD big_JJ idea_NN1 in_II alternative_JJ energy_NN1 :_: generating_JJ power_NN1 from_II the_AT winds_NN2 over_II the_AT open_JJ ocean_NN1 ,_, far_RR from_II land_NN1 ._. 
"_" Our_APPGE real_JJ opportunity_NN1 for_IF ocean_NN1 energy_NN1 is_VBZ deepwater_JJR wind_NN1 ,_, "_" said_VVD Habib_NP1 J._NP1 Dagher_NP1 ,_, director_NN1 of_IO the_AT Advanced_JJ Structures_NN2 and_CC Composites_NN2 Center_NN1 at_II the_AT University_NN1 of_IO Maine_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS with_IW an_AT1 $8_NNU million_NNO grant_NN1 from_II the_AT federal_JJ Department_NN1 of_IO Energy_NN1 is_VBZ organizing_VVG a_AT1 consortium_NN1 of_IO universities_NN2 ,_, companies_NN2 ,_, government_NN1 agencies_NN2 and_CC nonprofit_JJ groups_NN2 to_TO develop_VVI floating_JJ wind_NN1 turbines_NN2 in_II the_AT United_NP1 States_NP1 ._. 
Dr._NNB Dagher_NP1 hopes_VVZ to_TO have_VHI prototypes_NN2 for_IF testing_VVG off_II the_AT coast_NN1 of_IO Maine_NP1 in_II 2011_MC ,_, including_II one_MC1 from_II an_AT1 American_JJ company_NN1 ,_, Principle_NN1 Power_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ is_VBZ based_VVN in_II Seattle_NP1 ._. 
And_CC Blue_JJ H_ZZ1 USA_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 subsidiary_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 Dutch_JJ company_NN1 that_CST deployed_VVD a_AT1 two-thirds_MF scale_NN1 prototype_NN1 off_II Italy_NP1 in_II 2007_MC ,_, has_VHZ applied_VVN to_II the_AT Army_NN1 Corps_NN of_IO Engineers_NN2 for_IF a_AT1 permit_NN1 to_TO place_VVI a_AT1 test_NN1 platform_NN1 ,_, without_IW a_AT1 turbine_NN1 ,_, 23_MC miles_NNU2 south_ND1 of_IO Martha_NP1 's_GE Vineyard_NN1 to_TO gather_VVI engineering_NN1 and_CC environmental_JJ data_NN ._. 
"_" This_DD1 would_VM start_VVI the_AT learning_NN1 curve_NN1 in_II the_AT United_NP1 States_NP1 ,_, "_" said_VVD Ray_NP1 Dackerman_NP1 ,_, general_JJ manager_NN1 for_IF Blue_JJ H_ZZ1 USA_NP1 ._. 
Deepwater_JJR turbines_NN2 are_VBR meant_VVN to_TO solve_VVI some_DD of_IO the_AT problems_NN2 of_IO existing_JJ land-based_JJ turbines_NN2 and_CC those_DD2 that_CST are_VBR built_VVN on_II foundations_NN2 in_II shallow_JJ water_NN1 ,_, like_II large_JJ turbine_NN1 farms_NN2 in_II the_AT North_NP1 Sea_NNL1 and_CC the_AT Cape_NP1 Wind_NP1 project_NN1 proposed_VVN for_IF Nantucket_NN1 Sound_NN1 in_II Massachusetts_NP1 ._. 
Floating_JJ turbines_NN2 can_VM be_VBI located_VVN over_II the_AT horizon_NN1 ,_, out_II21 of_II22 sight_NN1 of_IO land_NN1 ,_, eliminating_VVG aesthetic_JJ and_CC noise_NN1 concerns_VVZ that_CST have_VH0 delayed_VVN projects_NN2 ,_, including_II Cape_NP1 Wind_NP1 ._. 
Deepwater_JJR farms_NN2 can_VM be_VBI established_VVN far_RR from_II shipping_NN1 lanes_NN2 ,_, aircraft_NN flight_NN1 paths_NN2 ,_, commercial_JJ or_CC sport_NN1 fishing_NN1 grounds_NN2 ,_, and_CC known_VVN migratory_JJ paths_NN2 of_IO birds_NN2 and_CC marine_JJ animals_NN2 ,_, potentially_RR easing_VVG the_AT process_NN1 of_IO obtaining_VVG the_AT necessary_JJ approvals_NN2 and_CC permits_NN2 ._. 
And_CC farther_RRR offshore_RL ,_, winds_NN2 are_VBR stronger_JJR and_CC more_RGR consistent_JJ ,_, with_IW no_AT surface_NN1 obstructions_NN2 to_TO slow_VVI the_AT air_NN1 down_RP ._. 
This_DD1 better-quality_JJ wind_NN1 is_VBZ also_RR closer_JJR to_II population_NN1 centers_NN2 on_II both_DB2 coasts_NN2 ._. 
Why_RRQ pay_VVI to_TO transmit_VVI power_NN1 from_II large_JJ wind_NN1 farms_NN2 on_II the_AT Great_JJ Plains_NN2 to_II the_AT coasts_NN2 ,_, deepwater_JJR proponents_NN2 argue_VV0 ,_, when_CS better_JJR sources_NN2 of_IO wind_NN1 are_VBR sitting_VVG just_RR a_AT1 dozen_NNO miles_NNU2 or_CC so_RR offshore_RL ?_? 
But_CCB the_AT concept_NN1 of_IO floating_JJ wind_NN1 turbines_NN2 has_VHZ its_APPGE own_DA problems_NN2 ,_, not_XX the_AT least_DAT of_IO which_DDQ is_VBZ cost_NN1 ._. 
Maine_NP1 officials_NN2 ,_, for_REX21 example_REX22 ,_, say_VV0 that_CST a_AT1 5-gigawatt_JJ deepwater_NN1 wind_NN1 farm_NN1 would_VM require_VVI about_RG $20_NNU billion_NNO in_II investment_NN1 ._. 
More_DAR than_CSN $70_NNU million_NNO has_VHZ been_VBN spent_VVN on_II the_AT Statoil_NP1 project_NN1 since_CS a_AT1 couple_NN1 of_IO employees_NN2 came_VVD up_RP with_IW the_AT idea_NN1 while_CS out_RP sailing_VVG eight_MC years_NNT2 ago_RA ._. 
As_CSA Mr._NNB Bratland_NP1 tells_VVZ the_AT story_NN1 ,_, they_PPHS2 noticed_VVD floating_JJ navigational_JJ buoys_NN2 of_IO the_AT kind_NN1 that_CST mark_VV0 harbor_NN1 entrances_NN2 ,_, "_" and_CC they_PPHS2 said_VVD ,_, why_RRQ not_XX put_VVN a_AT1 turbine_NN1 on_II31 top_II32 of_II33 such_DA a_AT1 construction_NN1 ?_? "_" 
Because_CS it_PPH1 relies_VVZ on_II a_AT1 long_JJ ballasted_JJ cylinder_NN1 to_TO keep_VVI it_PPH1 stable_JJ ,_, the_AT Hywind_NN1 design_NN1 has_VHZ to_TO be_VBI assembled_VVN in_II deep_JJ water_NN1 ,_, using_VVG floating_JJ cranes_NN2 and_CC large_JJ barges_NN2 ._. 
Other_JJ designs_NN2 ,_, like_II that_DD1 of_IO Principle_NN1 Power_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ uses_VVZ a_AT1 semi-submerged_JJ platform_NN1 with_IW adjustable_JJ buoyancy_NN1 ,_, can_VM be_VBI built_VVN on_RP or_CC near_JJ shore_NN1 ,_, but_CCB even_RR21 so_RR22 ,_, with_IW turbines_NN2 at_II 10_MC miles_NNU2 or_CC more_RRR from_II land_NN1 ,_, the_AT costs_NN2 of_IO installation_NN1 ,_, maintenance_NN1 and_CC repair_NN1 would_VM be_VBI high_JJ ._. 
And_CC transmitting_VVG power_NN1 through_II undersea_JJ cables_NN2 would_VM be_VBI expensive_JJ as_RR21 well_RR22 ,_, particularly_RR if_CS newer_JJR ,_, more_RGR efficient_JJ methods_NN2 like_II high-voltage_JJ direct_JJ current_JJ technology_NN1 are_VBR used_VVN ._. 
Aside_II21 from_II22 costs_NN2 ,_, there_EX are_VBR many_DA2 technical_JJ unknowns_NN2 about_II the_AT performance_NN1 of_IO wind_NN1 turbines_NN2 at_II sea_NN1 ._. 
"_" By_II going_VVG 20_MC miles_NNU2 offshore_RL we_PPIS2 're_VBR eliminating_VVG visual_JJ issues_NN2 ,_, noise_NN1 issues_NN2 ,_, "_" Dr._NNB Dagher_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
"_" But_CCB we_PPIS2 're_VBR creating_VVG more_RGR complicated_JJ engineering_NN1 issues_NN2 ._. "_" 
Most_DAT of_IO the_AT structural_JJ technology_NN1 is_VBZ borrowed_VVN from_II the_AT offshore_JJ oil_NN1 and_CC gas_NN1 industry_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ has_VHZ been_VBN building_VVG floating_JJ platforms_NN2 for_IF decades_NNT2 ._. 
But_CCB no_AT platform_NN1 can_VM be_VBI made_VVN completely_RR stable_JJ ,_, and_CC movement_NN1 caused_VVN by_II ocean_NN1 swells_NN2 and_CC storms_NN2 can_VM create_VVI unique_JJ stresses_NN2 on_II the_AT turbines_NN2 ,_, said_VVD Jason_NP1 Jonkman_NN1 of_IO the_AT National_JJ Renewable_JJ Energy_NN1 Laboratory_NN1 in_II Golden_JJ ,_, Colo._NP1 ,_, who_PNQS analyzes_VVZ different_JJ offshore_JJ designs_NN2 ._. 
As_II an_AT1 example_NN1 ,_, he_PPHS1 noted_VVD that_CST if_CS a_AT1 platform_NN1 pitches_NN2 in_II rough_JJ seas_NN2 ,_, the_AT turbine_NN1 's_VBZ spinning_VVG rotor_NN1 can_VM induce_VVI a_AT1 gyroscopic_JJ load_NN1 on_II the_AT rest_NN1 of_IO the_AT system_NN1 ._. 
"_" That_DD1 's_VHZ never_RR really_RR been_VBN an_AT1 issue_NN1 on_II a_AT1 land-based_JJ machine_NN1 ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 said_VVD ._. 
"_" There_EX 's_VBZ no_AT technical_JJ reason_NN1 why_RRQ you_PPY ca_VM n't_XX take_VVI a_AT1 platform_NN1 ,_, put_VVD a_AT1 turbine_NN1 on_II it_PPH1 and_CC get_VV0 it_PPH1 to_TO work_VVI ,_, "_" Mr._NNB Jonkman_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
"_" The_AT only_JJ question_NN1 is_VBZ ,_, can_VM you_PPY do_VDI it_PPH1 at_II a_AT1 reasonable_JJ cost_NN1 ?_? "_" 
"_" We_PPIS2 think_VV0 with_IW the_AT right_JJ design_NN1 we_PPIS2 can_VM get_VVI costs_NN2 down_RP to_II a_AT1 reasonable_JJ amount_NN1 so_CS it_PPH1 will_VM be_VBI comparable_JJ to_II conventional_JJ technology_NN1 ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 added_VVD ._. 
No_PN121 one_PN122 knows_VVZ what_DDQ the_AT best_JJT design_NN1 will_VM be_VBI ,_, but_CCB Mr._NNB Bratland_NP1 said_VVD that_CST having_VHG a_AT1 full-scale_JJ prototype_NN1 in_II the_AT water_NN1 had_VHD helped_VVN his_APPGE company_NN1 's_GE cause_NN1 ._. 
"_" My_APPGE task_NN1 as_CSA asset_NN1 manager_NN1 has_VHZ not_XX only_RR been_VBN to_TO build_VVI a_AT1 floating_JJ turbine_NN1 ,_, but_CCB to_TO try_VVI to_TO develop_VVI a_AT1 market_NN1 ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 said_VVD ._. 
"_" Hywind_NN1 is_VBZ an_AT1 opener_NN1 ._. 
It_PPH1 's_VBZ a_AT1 kind_NN1 of_IO mindset_NN1 ._. "_" 
Statoil_NP1 's_GE reputation_NN1 in_II the_AT oil_NN1 and_CC gas_NN1 industry_NN1 ,_, he_PPHS1 added_VVD ,_, may_VM help_VVI it_PPH1 attract_VVI other_JJ companies_NN2 to_TO develop_VVI different_JJ turbines_NN2 ,_, assembly_NN1 ships_NN2 and_CC the_AT other_JJ specialty_NN1 equipment_NN1 needed_VVN for_IF the_AT technology_NN1 to_TO develop_VVI ,_, he_PPHS1 said_VVD ._. 
"_" If_CS this_DD1 is_VBZ going_VVGK to_TO be_VBI a_AT1 large_JJ industry_NN1 ,_, we_PPIS2 need_VV0 lots_PN of_IO players_NN2 ._. "_" 
