Offshore Wind Energy Projects Research Articles

High-Resolution Wind Speed Estimates for the Eastern Mediterranean Basin: A Statistical Comparison Against Coastal Meteorological Observations

Wind speed (and direction) estimated from numerical weather prediction (NWP) models is essential to wind energy applications, especially in the absence of reliable fine scale spatio-temporal wind information. This study evaluates four high-resolution wind speed numerical datasets (UERRA MESCAN-SURFEX, CERRA, COSMO-REA6, and NEWA) against in situ observations from coastal meteorological stations in the eastern Mediterranean basin. The evaluation is based on statistical comparisons of long-term wind speed data from 2009 to 2018 and involves an in-depth statistical comparison as well as a preliminary wind power density assessment at or near the meteorological station locations. The results show that while all datasets provide valuable insights into regional wind variability, there are notable differences in model performance. COSMO-REA6 and UERRA exhibit higher variability in wind speed but tend to underestimate extreme values, particularly in the southern coastal areas, whereas CERRA and NEWA provided closer fits to observed wind speeds, with CERRA showing the highest correlation at most stations. NEWA data, where available, overestimate average wind speeds but capture extreme values well. The comparison reveals that while all datasets provide valuable insights into the spatial and temporal variability of wind resources, their performance varies by location and season, emphasizing the need for the careful selection and potential calibration of these models for accurate wind energy assessments. The study provides essential groundwork for leveraging these datasets in planning and optimizing offshore wind energy projects, contributing to the region’s transition to renewable energy sources.

Location selection for offshore wind power station using interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy distance measure-RANCOM-WISP method

The development opportunities and high-performance capacity of offshore wind energy project depends on the selection of the suitable offshore wind power station (OWPS) location. The present study aims to introduce a decision-making model for assessing the locations for OWPS from multiple criteria and uncertainty perspectives. In this regard, the concept of interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy set (IVIFS) is utilized to express uncertain information. To quantify the degree of difference between IVIFSs, an improved distance measure is proposed and further utilized for deriving the objective weights of criteria. Numerical examples are discussed to illustrate the usefulness of introduced IVIF-distance measure. The RANking COMparison (RANCOM) based on interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy information is presented to determine the subjective weights of criteria. With the combination of objective and subjective weights of criteria, an integrated weighting tool is presented to find the numeric weights of criteria under IVIFS environment. Further, a hybrid interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy Weighted integrated Sum Product (WISP) approach is developed to prioritize the OWPS locations from multiple criteria and uncertainty perspectives. This approach combines the benefits of two normalization tools and four utility measures, which approves the effect of beneficial and non-beneficial criteria by means of weighted sum and weighted product measures. Further, the developed approach is applied to the OWPS location selection problem of Gujarat, India. Sensitivity and comparative analyses are presented to confirm the robustness and stability of the present WISP approach. This study provides an innovative decision analysis framework, which makes a significant contribution to the OWPS locations assessment problem under uncertain environment.

Offshore oil and gas infrastructure electrification and offshore wind: a legal exploration

Abstract The oil and gas and renewable energy sectors are increasingly coming together as traditional hydrocarbon producers are exploring the large-scale integration of renewables in fossil-fuel projects. One option is the electrification of oil and gas production platforms in the offshore environment utilizing offshore wind energy to power the asset’s operations. This article assesses the rationale for such a shift as well as regulatory avenues and barriers to the electrification of offshore oil and gas assets through offshore wind energy technology. While the article’s explorations are of a general conceptual nature, this article studies existing and planned developments in Norway and Atlantic Canada. This article discusses key factors to determine the legal nature of different electrification project models and proposes solutions to identify the likely legislative and regulatory regime(s) which will govern. The article concludes that reforms for a forward-thinking legal and regulatory environment for the offshore space will have to re-examine the role of existing (platform) and new (wind but also oil and gas) offshore infrastructure and the associated regime that applies to these projects. Currently, in the Norwegian and Canadian contexts, these discussions are somewhat exploratory. They do, however, underline the importance of planning the co-development of offshore wind energy projects with existing and future oil and gas projects and to highlight the need for greater clarity in the evolving design of legal and regulatory frameworks to support the future of the global offshore energy sector.

Developments in Metocean Information in Support of US Offshore Wind Energy and the Ocean Sciences

Strong growth of offshore wind energy development is driving demand for better characterizing meteorological and oceanographic (metocean) conditions where physical data are traditionally sparse. Most offshore wind energy structures extend from the seafloor up through the full water column and into the atmosphere to heights approaching 300 m. This requires a comprehensive understanding of anticipated waves, swells, currents, and weather over the life cycle of offshore wind energy projects. This paper describes the relevance of key metocean parameters and analyses to the offshore wind energy field and examines the opportunities and challenges that may be encountered by metocean initiatives, particularly in the United States where offshore wind energy is in the early stages of development. We also suggest ways in which offshore wind energy driven metocean activities can reap spin-off benefits to broader oceanographic interests.

Sequential Model Predictive Control for Grid Connection in Offshore Wind Farms Based on Active Disturbance Rejection

In order to harness a greater share of wind energy resources, offshore wind energy projects are venturing into deep-sea locations. In this progression, the issue of grid integration control becomes increasingly challenging. Traditional Model Predictive Control (MPC) has been introduced in offshore wind energy grid integration control due to its merits, such as not requiring modulators, dispensing with decoupling, incorporating constraint handling, and facilitating online optimization. However, it heavily relies on a model and consequently experiences a substantial loss of control effectiveness in the face of system parameter variations. In light of this, this study presents an active-disturbance-rejection-based three-vector sequence model predictive control approach. This method effectively mitigates the influence caused by changes in system parameters, endowing the system with self-disturbance rejection capabilities and enhancing its fault recovery abilities. The method employs self-disturbance control to track voltage reference values and employs the concept of sequence control to eliminate weighting factors in the cost function. Furthermore, it employs three-vector control to achieve error-free operation. The simulation results confirmed that the proposed method effectively minimizes voltage and power transients. It demonstrated superior control effectiveness and shorter response times, enabling the system to rapidly restore to a stable operational state following disturbances.

Feasibility Analysis of Offshore Wind Power Projects in the Caribbean Region of Colombia: A Case Study Using FAHP–GIS

Planning for offshore wind energy projects is intricate due to the consideration of multiple variables in identifying optimal project areas. The primary challenge lies in locating suitable sites, a process that often necessitates extensive feasibility studies spanning several years. The primary goal of this study is to apply the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) to prioritize criteria and sub-criteria, facilitating decision-making in choosing appropriate locations for offshore wind projects in the Colombian Caribbean Sea. The weights derived from FAHP were utilized in a Geographic Information System (GIS) to analyze the physical characteristics of the Caribbean Sea’s surface. This tool plays a critical role in evaluating and selecting sites that fulfill established criteria, providing a database of indicators and map visualizations. Four criteria were defined: technical, environmental, social, and economic, along with fourteen sub-criteria, which were prioritized through FAHP based on expert judgment. The results revealed that the most relevant sub-criteria were protected areas and wind speed. Utilizing the ArcGIS Pro software, five zones meeting the predetermined criteria were identified, defining the most feasible areas for offshore wind farm installation, located in the departments of Guajira, Magdalena, Atlántico and Bolívar. The GIS–FAHP methods proved to be useful for feasibility analysis.

GIS-based MCDM dual optimization approach for territorial-scale offshore wind power plants

Despite the relevant potential of offshore resource to substantially mitigate the effects of climate change through the generation of renewable electricity, the full exploitation of such wind resource currently remains incomplete. To promote offshore wind energy projects, it is crucial to engage in comprehensive planning processes that encompass technical, social, environmental, stakeholder, and political considerations. Within this framework, this paper presents a combined approach based on Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) methodology to optimize the selection of offshore wind farm locations. The proposed methodology includes annual net electricity production as a critical factor in the decision-making process, which has been previously optimized with regard to the wake effect. Subsequently, the determination of potential locations involves key criteria such as technical feasibility, environmental impact, economic viability, and power generation potential. This MCDM-GIS approach was applied and evaluated in a case study along the Spanish coastline, considering 92 initial alternatives. The results indicate that the offshore wind energy targets established for Spain in 2030 and 2050 should be reevaluated, as the optimal utilization of the available area represents only 16% of the total potential area. Based on the aforementioned criteria, a suitability map was generated by integrating all relevant map layers, including their respective buffer zones.

Harnessing Offshore Wind in Canada: The Regulatory Landscape for Offshore Wind Development and Lessons Learned from the United Kingdom, Denmark, and the United States

Abstract Offshore wind is a key renewable energy source which can lessen depend-ency on fossil fuels and help meet global decarbonization targets. Countries such as the United Kingdom, Denmark, and recently the United States of America, have success in operationalizing offshore wind developments. Canada, despite vast ocean resources, does not have any offshore wind projects. One reason for this can be attributed to the lack of policies to sup-port development of offshore wind projects. To date, there has been no research conducted on the legal regime for developing an offshore wind energy project in Canada. This research focuses on identifying which ear-ly-stage permits are required for offshore wind development federally and provincially, utilizing Nova Scotia as a provincial example. This article iden-tifies the relevant Canadian legislation, regulations, and decision-makers as well as makes suggestions to improve Canada’s regime. To identify regula-tory improvements that Canada could utilize, the regimes of the UK, Den-mark, and the USA are examined with a focus on their initial permit pro-cess. The proposed policy improvements relate to matters of environmental and impact assessments, seabed acquisition and licensing, as well as the administrative processes for granting required permits and consents.

Assessment of turbulence intensity estimates from floating lidar systems

In the pre-construction phase of offshore wind energy projects floating lidar systems (FLS) are used for wind site assessment. Their measurements of mean wind speed and direction have proven to be accurate according to existing standards. But for the assessment of turbulence intensity (TI), a widely-accepted procedure and acceptance criteria are missing. This study investigates different evaluation methods, namely linear regression analysis and the key performance indicators (KPIs) presented by the Consortium for Advancing Remote Sensing (CFARS). The assessment is based on data from an offshore trial of the Fugro SEAWATCH Wind Lidar Buoy (SWLB) against the meteorological mast and a collocated fixed profiling wind lidar at Blyth, UK. The results show that the accuracy of TI estimates from FLS can be evaluated well, when the KPIs mean bias error (MBE) and representative TI error suggested by CFARS are used. We propose best-practice acceptance thresholds of ±1% for MBE and ±1.5% for the representative TI error. The motion-compensation approach of the SWLB works well and after compensation, its TI data are similar to the data from the fixed reference lidar. The impact of lidar-specific effects is minor in the analyzed data set and near-to-zero biases are found for all measurement elevations and wind speed bins in comparison to mast data.

Wind Retrieval from Constellations of Small SAR Satellites: Potential for Offshore Wind Resource Assessment

The planning of offshore wind energy projects requires wind observations over long periods for the establishment of wind speed distributions. In the marine environment, high-quality in situ observations are sparse and restricted to point locations. Numerical modeling is typically used to determine the spatial variability of the wind resource. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) observations from satellites can be used for retrieval of wind fields over the ocean at a high spatial resolution. The recent launch of constellations of small SAR satellites by private companies will improve the sampling of SAR scenes significantly over the coming years compared with the current sampling rates offered by multi-purpose SAR missions operated by public space agencies. For the first time, wind fields are retrieved from a series of StriX SAR scenes delivered by Synspective (Japan) and also from Sentinel-1 scenes delivered by the European Space Agency. The satellite winds are compared with wind speed observations from the FINO3 mast in the North Sea. This leads to root-mean-square errors of 1.4–1.8 m s−1 and negative biases of −0.4 m s−1 and −1.0 m s−1, respectively. Although the Geophysical Model Functions (GMF) applied for wind retrievals have not yet been tuned for StriX SAR observations, the wind speed accuracy is satisfactory. Through conditional sampling, we estimate the wind resource from current and future SAR sampling scenarios where the number of SAR satellites in orbit is increasing over time. We find that hourly samples are needed to fully capture the diurnal wind speed variability at the site investigated. A combination of SAR samples from current missions with samples from clusters of small SAR satellites can yield the necessary number of wind speed samples for accurate wind resource estimation. This is particularly important for sites with pronounced diurnal wind speed variability. An additional benefit of small SAR satellites is that wind speed variability can be mapped at the sub-km scale. The very high spatial resolution is valuable for characterizing the wind conditions in the vicinity of existing offshore wind farms.

Valuing the public preference for offshore wind energy: The case study in South Korea

Offshore wind energy in South Korea has received more attention than other renewable energies with less availability of onshore space and low public acceptance. The South Korean government announced a new policy to enhance offshore wind energy portion, and has been exploring the energy development sites. The current article estimates the willingness to pay (WTP) for offshore wind energy, employing the contingent valuation approach. To this end, a nationwide survey of 1000 respondents was conducted to compute their WTP for the offshore wind energy project. The average WTP was estimated at KRW 3600.0 (USD 3.1) per month per household, and the calculated benefit total was KRW 869.0 billion (USD 744.3 million) per year. These findings can provide a significant standard for discerning the economic evaluation of the offshore wind energy project. Finally, we offer the pertinent policy implication in line with the analysis results.

Public dialogue as a collaborative planning process for offshore wind energy projects: Implications from a text analysis of a South Korean case

Local opposition to renewable energy projects reflects the competition among various ideas and values in the energy transition process. Offshore wind farms (OWFs), which are one of the most promising renewable energy generation facilities, are still not free from conflict. This study aimed to enrich the knowledge of the use of public dialogue for collaborative planning in OWF conflict situations. The spatial context on the case was Tongyeong-si, South Korea, where we hosted public dialogue programs. The main purpose of the program was to gather local opinion leaders and enable them to participate in a voluntary discussion on the most important issues related to the OWF project. The post-text and factor analyses could allow the identification of the three most important factors for residents regarding the siting of an OWF: resident participation in the siting process, consideration of damage to fisheries, and sufficient information for judgment. The degree to which the three factors were considered important was different for stakeholders: fishers emphasized the consideration of damage to fisheries, while environmental groups stressed sufficient judgment evidence, but all actors regarded citizen participation in the siting process as necessary. The findings of public dialogue can be interpreted within the local context to indicate that many aspects of the sociotechnical system should be changed to solve renewable energy conflicts. Furthermore, public dialogue can serve as an effective transition strategy to overcome confrontations through the co-production of knowledge and constructing an agenda together with the public.

Risk Management and Insurance Programs Related to Offshore Wind Energy Projects

Risk Management and Insurance Programs Related to Offshore Wind Energy Projects

China: Jiangsu Black Cat – carbon nanotubes

With the promotion of renewable energy production and a planned phaseout of fossil fuels until 2040, the offshore wind energy sector has expanded and will continue to increase its capacity in the upcoming decades. This study presents a novel approach to deriving the installed capacity of offshore wind turbines on a global scale from spaceborne radar imagery provided by the Sentinel-1 mission. This new method contributes significantly to the information depth of freely available data sets, which provide the spatiotemporal patterns of offshore wind turbines. Furthermore, by combining freely available Earth observation and GIS data, commonly reported attributes of the offshore wind energy sector are compiled to provide a first impression of how this data can be used. All attributes are investigated to provide an in-depth overview of the developments in the offshore wind energy sector over the last five years. Between July 2016 and June 2021, the installed capacity worldwide grew from 13.5 GW to 40.6 GW. This corresponds to an increase of 27.1 GW or 200%. In total 8885 OWTs were installed until June 2021 with an additional 852 under construction. The European Union (15.2 GW), China (14.1 GW) and the United Kingdom (10.7 GW) are the three major contributors to the offshore wind energy sector. China has seen the largest growth in the last five years of 13 GW, followed by the EU with 8 GW and the UK with 5.8 GW. The provided analysis at the end of this study describes the offshore wind energy sector in a transition phase between decades of maturity and massive growth at a time when carbon-neutral energy production is massively supported. Overall the proposed approaches for independent offshore wind turbine capacity estimation and spatiotemporal investigation of the offshore wind energy sector can be used by all stakeholders involved in the upcoming challenge of integrated planning and implementation of offshore wind energy projects.

Global dynamics of the offshore wind energy sector monitored with Sentinel-1: Turbine count, installed capacity and site specifications

With the promotion of renewable energy production and a planned phaseout of fossil fuels until 2040, the offshore wind energy sector has expanded and will continue to increase its capacity in the upcoming decades. This study presents a novel approach to deriving the installed capacity of offshore wind turbines on a global scale from spaceborne radar imagery provided by the Sentinel-1 mission. This new method contributes significantly to the information depth of freely available data sets, which provide the spatiotemporal patterns of offshore wind turbines. Furthermore, by combining freely available Earth observation and GIS data, commonly reported attributes of the offshore wind energy sector are compiled to provide a first impression of how this data can be used. All attributes are investigated to provide an in-depth overview of the developments in the offshore wind energy sector over the last five years. Between July 2016 and June 2021, the installed capacity worldwide grew from 13.5 GW to 40.6 GW. This corresponds to an increase of 27.1 GW or 200%. In total 8885 OWTs were installed until June 2021 with an additional 852 under construction. The European Union (15.2 GW), China (14.1 GW) and the United Kingdom (10.7 GW) are the three major contributors to the offshore wind energy sector. China has seen the largest growth in the last five years of 13 GW, followed by the EU with 8 GW and the UK with 5.8 GW. The provided analysis at the end of this study describes the offshore wind energy sector in a transition phase between decades of maturity and massive growth at a time when carbon-neutral energy production is massively supported. Overall the proposed approaches for independent offshore wind turbine capacity estimation and spatiotemporal investigation of the offshore wind energy sector can be used by all stakeholders involved in the upcoming challenge of integrated planning and implementation of offshore wind energy projects. • Novel approach for height calculation and capacity estimation of offshore wind turbines. • Global scale offshore wind energy installed capacity report based on EO data. • Spatiotemporal analysis of site specifications of offshore wind turbines. • Regional comparison of the development of the offshore wind energy sector.

The evolution of the pre- and post-construction public opinions toward offshore wind energy on the Belgian coast

Offshore wind farms are increasingly part of the modern coastal landscape and are often the reason for public opposition. To inform policymakers and to facilitate public participation strategies, the present study examines public opinion concerning offshore wind energy projects on the Belgian coast, its evolution over time and significant determinants. Public opinion is compared for three moments in time. A significant increase in acceptance was found between 2002 (planning phase prior to construction) and 2009 (turbines operational and more under construction). Acceptance remained at a high level from 2009 to 2019 with expansion still ongoing. Familiarization led to a reduction in negative attitudes. In the current population (2019), the visibility of the turbines has no influence on attitudes. Support for wind energy can be ensured when the facilities are perceived as part of the coast’s identity and when perceived impacts can be kept low.

Offshore wind power station (OWPS) site selection using a two-stage MCDM-based spherical fuzzy set approach

In response to challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change to achieve the goal of ensuring sustainable economic growth, offshore wind power development not only provides a clean and sustainable source of energy but also provides opportunities for economic growth and job creation. Offshore wind energy projects have been promptly suggested in Vietnam due to policy advancement, with the country's excellent wind resources. The success of an offshore wind energy project is decided mainly by choosing the best location for offshore wind power station (OWPS) construction, which is a complex multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) problem with the coexistence of conflicting factors. There is a problem with incomplete decision information use and information loss during the decision-making process, and it is easy to overlook the interaction difficulty in a fuzzy environment. To address the complex nature of the prioritization problem posed, this study proposes a hybrid MCDM framework combining the spherical fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (SF-AHP) and weighted aggregated sum product assessment (WASPAS). SF-AHP is used in the first stage to determine the significance levels of OWPS evaluation criteria. WASPAS is then utilized to rank locations of OWPS. A comprehensive set of evaluation criteria developed based on the concept of sustainable development has been recognized by reviewing the literature review and interviewing experts to practice the two-stage MCDM model. A real case study for Vietnam is conducted to test the effectiveness of the proposed method. The best location schemes have been determined by using the decision framework. The results of the sensitivity analysis and a comparison analysis demonstrate that the decision framework is practical and robust. The proposed methodology can be used to attain a decision-making process at the regional level for offshore wind farm planning and coastal development, and the study results encourage the establishment of renewable energy development policies.

Text Analysis of Social Dialogue on the Offshore Wind Energy Projects: Implications to Renewable Energy Acceptance and Collective Planning

Text Analysis of Social Dialogue on the Offshore Wind Energy Projects: Implications to Renewable Energy Acceptance and Collective Planning

A Bayesian model for wind farm capacity factors

Capacity factors are an important performance metric for offshore wind energy projects as they indicate how efficiently a given project generates electricity. Given the intermittent nature of the wind resource, there is substantial variability between observed capacity factors seasonally and between years. However, little work has focused on extracting trends in the variable wind farm energy generation data. This paper proposes applying hierarchical Bayesian techniques to historical capacity factors to enable the prediction of capacity factor distributions. The proposed model relies on data from UK offshore wind farms, the most developed market for offshore wind energy, but is equally applicable to other countries. The resulting capacity factor distributions highlight a substantial variability in capacity factors both when modelled as yearly and monthly (which accounts for seasonality). The model shows that newer wind farms have higher capacity factors than older farms, with an improvement of approximately 20%. It is also demonstrates that capacity factor variability has a smaller impact on levelized cost of energy estimates. The results from this study can be used both to predict capacity factors for individual wind farms or to make predictions for a generic wind farm.

Offshore Wind Energy Resource in the Kingdom of Morocco: Assessment of the Seasonal Potential Variability Based on Satellite Data

This study provides a first estimate of the offshore wind power potential along the Moroccan Atlantic shelf based on remotely sensed data. An in-depth knowledge of wind potential characteristics allows assessment of the offshore wind energy project. Based on consistent daily satellite data retrieved from the Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT) spanning the period from 2008 to 2017, the seasonal wind characteristics were statistically analyzed using the climatological Weibull distribution functions and an assessment of the Moroccan potential coastal wind energy resources was qualitatively analyzed across a range of sites likely to be suitable for possible exploitation. Also, an atlas of wind power density (WPD) at a height of 80 m was provided for the whole Moroccan coast. An examination of the bathymetrical conditions of the study area was carried out since bathymetry is among the primary factors that need to be examined with the wind potential during offshore wind project planning. The results were presented based on the average wind intensity and the prevailing direction, and also the wind power density was shown at monthly, seasonal and interannual time scale. The analysis indicated that the coastal wind regime of the southern area of Morocco has the greatest energy potential, with an average power density which can reach in some places a value around 450 W/m2 at heights of 10 m and 80 m above sea level (a.s.l) (wind turbine hub height) more particularly in the south of the country.