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82 www.resourceworld.com D E C E M B E R / J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 8 Developments in Green Technology by Jane Bratun GREEN TECHNOLOGIES WIND FARMS A SUCCESS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM Humans have used wind power for more than two thousand years. Windmills were often used by farmers and ranchers for pumping water or grinding grain. In modern times, wind energy generates elec- tricity, through wind turbines. All wind turbines operate in the same basic manner; as the wind blows, it flows over the airfoil- shaped blades of wind turbines, causing the turbine blades to spin. The blades are connected to a drive shaft that turns an electric generator to produce electricity. The newest wind turbines are technologi- cally advanced and include engineering and mechanical innovations to help maxi- mize efficiency and increase electricity production. According to the May 2017 issue of The Guardian, the planet's biggest and most powerful wind turbines have begun gen- erating electricity off the Liverpool coast, cementing Britain's reputation as a world leader in the technology. Liverpool is in northern England, where its deepwater marine port enables access for specialist construction vessels. The Cammell Laird shipyard specializes in modular construc- tion, repair, and turbine assembly, and is ideally located on the River Mersey overlooking the Liverpool waterfront. The company's Birkenhead site spans 130 acres and includes four dry docks, a large modular construction hall and extensive covered workshops. It is also at the centre of a marine and engineering cluster with easy access to support services classifica- tion societies and port state authorities. It services the Irish Sea wind farm expansion and other wind farms around Europe. Adding to the robust wind farm sup- port infrastructure, students from the Liverpool John Moores University can obtain and provide academic expertise in developing wind power, and the North West Maritime and Engineering College is home to the UK's only dedicated engi- neering college that develops programs to support the offshore wind industry. As part of this offshore wind industry, a wind farm, located off Liverpool Bay, with the world's biggest turbines has been switched on to supply power to 230,000 UK homes. Each of the farm's 32 turbines stands at 640 feet (195 metres), which is higher than London's Gherkin tower. The colossal structures each have blades that are 262 feet (80 metres) long. The Burno Bank Extension wind farm, also off Liverpool Bay, was built by the Danish company, Ørsted, [ORSTED- NASDAQ Copenhagen], formerly Dong Energy, and links to a power station in St. Asaph in northern Wales via an export cable. Ørsted is building a new operations facility in Merseyside that will serve both Burbo Bank Extension, and the exist- ing wind farm in the area, Burbo Bank. Up to 75 jobs will be created during the The Burno Bank Extension wind farm off Liverpool Bay was built by the Danish company, Ørsted, [ORSTED-Nasdaq Copenhagen], formerly Dong Energy, and links to a power station in St. Asaph in northern Wales. Photo courtesy Ørsted.