Enhanced design basis for offshore wind farm load calculations based on met-ocean data from a floating lidar system

Abstract

A design basis is an essential part of planning and realising an offshore wind farm project. Based on the data of local environmental conditions and the results of load calculations, wind turbine system and support structure designs are developed. This paper reports a measurement campaign with a Floating Lidar System in combination with an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler that was carried out to provide all basic parameters of a standard design basis. On top of that, a procedure was established to develop an enhanced design basis for offshore wind farm load calculations based on site-specific and more detailed met-ocean data – including, for instance, the actual profiles for wind speed, wind direction, and current speed. A comparison of the results of various load case simulations based on the standard design basis, as well as the enhanced design basis, shows a great potential for realising a more cost-efficient design for a wind turbine system and support structure when utilizing such an enhanced design basis.