In this issue: Moving onwards and upwards – as the wind energy industry experiences rapid growth. Also inside: Exploring innovative methods for offshore wind resource assessment, New designs for offshore wind turbine structures, EDP Renewables: The wave of the future
Date: 17 March 2011
We are pleased to present the inaugural issue of Wind Energy Update, a new publication produced by DNV. Wind Energy Update includes interesting articles on recent developments in the wind industry, profiles on companies making an impact, and the latest news on cutting edge research and innovation projects.
Having just launched the world’s largest offshore wind farm, you’d expect Ole Bigum Nielsen to take a moment to savour the accomplishment. But with Vattenfall’s long-term goal of a climate-neutral energy mix by 2050, he is at the centre of ambitious short-term plans to meet that target.
Why do the different stakeholders in the wind energy industry – project developers, project owners, turbine manufacturers, the financing community, insurers, regulators, and engineering companies – deem certification as a best practice to manage risks throughout the life cycle of wind projects both offshore and onshore?
Developing new technologies, methodologies and standards has always been a focus of attention for DNV – we recognise that knowledge and innovation help industry develop and prosper. DNV’s comprehensive research programme includes a wide variety of cutting-edge projects on particular areas or issues - issues that are deemed to be of significance to the industry. Often industry partners join the projects and, together, the best solutions and innovations are found and developed.
Accurately measuring the wind resource and site conditions at offshore wind projects presents unique challenges and associated opportunities for innovation. The industry has not yet matured to a consensus view on the best approach to tackling offshore wind resource assessment. DNV conducted an internal research project with input from industry partners to explore innovative ways of assessing offshore wind resource.
The exponential growth of the wind industry brings with it numerous challenges and risks. This is particularly prevalent in the offshore wind industry as projects move further offshore, into deeper waters and more remote locations. Due to the industry being still relatively young, with only 25–30 years of mostly onshore commercial experience, and the constant developments in technology, best practices in health, safety and the environment (HSE) are essentially still work in progress.
Wind energy generation is expected to grow over the next few decades and accelerate its global expansion. The lack of trained personnel is one of the industry’s most pressing challenges to meet the expected growth. This spring, DNV is launching new workforce training initiatives to fast track new employees in the wind segment.
DNV and key industry players have released a report on the design of offshore monopile wind turbine structures. This is the outcome of a joint industry project which was established to improve the basis for calculating the axial load capacity and to review current design practices.
DNV has developed the world’s first class rules for wind farm service vessels in order to improve safety and promote uniform standards. The rules were published January 2011.
While technically more challenging, offshore wind farms are increasingly seen as a preferred alternative to land based installations, which avoid issues related to land ownership and local opposition. In response to a rise in new build orders for wind turbine installation units (WTIUs), DNV has developed a new Offshore Standard DNV-OS-J301 Standard for Classification of Wind Turbine Installation Units.
Established in 2008, Fred. Olsen Windcarrier is a new player in the wind turbine installation market. But with two purpose-built vessels now under construction, the company is preparing to take a bold step into this growing segment.
Gabriel Alonso, Chief Executive Officer of Horizon Wind Energy and Chief Operating Officer of EDP Renewables North America, is confident that wind power is the wave of the future, despite today’s challenges. Of all forms of renewable energy, he sees wind power’s economics as the best investment.
How Puget Sound Energy changed the game for regulated utilities developing renewables in the US
DNV has acquired Benke, Erdman and Whitaker Engineering, Inc. (BEW) in California; a consulting company with a particular focus on solar power, wind energy, power transmission and grid integration.
