The LEANWIND suite of logistics optimisation and full lifecycle simulation models for offshore wind farms

Abstract

The offshore wind sector has achieved significant cost reductions in recent years. However, there is still work to be done to maintain and surpass these savings across current and future farms. There is increased competition to reduce costs within the industry itself. Additional challenges are foreseen at future sites located further from shore, in harsher conditions and deeper waters. Larger turbines and projects also mean new equipment, logistics and maintenance requirements. Moreover, farms are approaching the decommissioning phase where there is little experience. Modelling is a safe and cost-effective way to evaluate and optimise operations. However, there is a lack of comprehensive decision-support tools, detailed enough to provide insight into the effects of technological innovations and novel strategies. To address the gap, the EU FP7 LEANWIND project developed a suite of state-of-the-art logistics optimisation and financial simulation models. They can assess a farm scenario in detail at every stage of the project lifecycle and supply-chain, identifying potential cost reductions and more efficient strategies. This paper introduces the models including: an overview of their scope and capabilities; how they can be applied; and the potential end users.