At this time, with the demand for electricity around the world ever increasing, one way to reduce our dependence on non-renewable energy is to start using renewable ones, such as wind power .Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Wind energy is set to play an increasingly significant role in Ireland's future energy system. Government policies commit to providing 10% of energy from renewable sources by 2020 and cutting 65% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. While there are clearly numerous similarities between the design of onshore and offshore wind turbines, there are differences which derive from the particular operating environment. The marine environment offers both advantages and disadvantages. Installation in water is extremely more difficult than on land and becomes increasingly difficult in deeper water. Salt water is highly corrosive. These negative factors are compensated by more powerful and less turbulent winds and fewer restrictions on the available area. Given the distance from the audience, there are also fewer restrictions on acoustic elements, height and blade height allowing for higher blade speeds. Originally, offshore installations exploited the most appropriate sites, close to land in shallow water, and used onshore turbine designs. Even the first large-scale offshore wind farms such as Horns Rev 1 using turbines were originally designed for onshore wind farms. However, further use of offshore wind energy will require sites much further from shore and in much deeper water. Experience from offshore operations has already refined turbine design, but important developments, including more radical designs, are underway. The Energy Technologies Institute, for example, has been studying a number of new possibilities, including floating platforms with tension legs, vertical-axis turbines, large blades, and optimized horizontal-axis designs for deep water. The primary aim of these projects, as with most offshore wind energy research, is to improve reliability and reduce costs. Safety at sea is also of vital importance. The waters around Ireland are extremely busy and offshore wind farms could interfere with shipping routes. Offshore farm design seeks to optimize production which may conflict with maritime safety requirements, particularly relating to farm boundaries and vessel routing. Turbine design continues to advance, particularly in transmission and control systems. More radical design innovations for offshore wind power are being considered as it advances into deeper waters and away from land. The durability of mechanical equipment is always a concern for owners and developers, and wind turbines are no exception. Wind farm owners will have invested significant capital in the construction and installation of the turbines, on which they will only get a return if the turbine is available to generate electricity. Keeping the turbine operational in hostile locations is therefore critical to development economics. This is especially true for offshore developments where access and egress are limited by weather conditions. Turbines are typically designed for a 20-year life, and many early turbines have now completed that lifespan. Typically, modern onshore turbines are available to generate electricity 97-98% of the time. The availability of offshore wind energy is less but.