Harbor would need upgrades to support offshore wind
Cost would depend on size of the devices being installed
The upgrades needed for Humboldt Bay’s port infrastructure to support offshore wind research depends on the size of the devices being installed and whether there would be onsite or offsite fabrication of the project’s components.
Improvements to accommodate small to large facilities would cost $50 million to $100 million while larger facilities would cost $150 million to $300 million, Aaron Porter, project researcher at engineering consulting firm Mott MacDonald, said during a webinar on offshore wind research by the Schatz Energy Research Center at Humboldt State University on Monday. An additional marine terminal to support fabrication of the wind farm components could be $50 million to $100 million, or less depending on some of the details, Porter said.
“The navigation channel looks like it can likely support offshore wind projects in general, but device size needs to be coordinated with the throughput requirements for the project,” Porter said. “Bigger devices with the same channel geometry would have less throughput per year because there would be more constraints on towing those devices out.”
Shane Phillips, a project researcher at consultant Mott MacDonald, pointed to a 2016 Bureau of Ocean Energy Management study that found that Humboldt Bay already had high potential for development to support offshore wind farms.
There are multiple reasons for that, such as the types of ships that are needed are extremely tall and there are no bridges along the navigation channel, he said.
There’s also enough available water depth; the port is in close proximity to the Humboldt Call Area 20 miles off the coast, which would minimize transit time; and the harbor is protected and would allow for the assembly of devices, something that’s more challenging in open water, Phillips said.
Some improvements would still be needed and the researchers were focused on two factors, the import of components and the towing out of assembled devices, Porter said.
“We have pretty good confidence that the existing infrastructure can meet the needs for the component delivery vessels since it meets the needs for forest products vessels,” Phillips said.
But some components, such
as floating structures, are unique in that they would need vessels that are wider and potentially deeper than some of the existing vessels that access the port, they said.
In terms of the navigation channel, the throughput would be dependent on the channel modifications that were made, and widening may be needed so there would need to be coordination on a maneuvering assessment to determine the device geometries that can safely navigate the Inner Channel, Porter said.
Existing marine terminals that could be used would need berth dredging, wharf upgrades, grading and yard ground improvements, Porter said.
Operationally, Porter said the installation would need to be seasonal because of the wind coming out of the Pacific Ocean, but components would still need to be coming in year-round.
Depending on the size and other details of the offshore wind project, Phillips said it would take four to six years for a small project and five to seven or more years for a larger one.
For more information about the Schatz Center’s offshore wind research, to view previous webinars and to register for future webinars, go to schatzcenter.org/wind.