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On a global scale, the demand for renewable energy is growing rapidly. Wind energy, with its endless and environmentally friendly supply, plays an important role in meeting this demand. However, to effectively exploit offshore wind energy, advanced technological solutions are needed to ensure safety and optimize operations.
The weather and ocean monitoring system developed by Reecotech provides a comprehensive solution for offshore wind farm investors and operators. The system provides real-time, accurate weather and oceanographic data to enhance safety, optimize efficiency, and reduce costs.
Application of offshore wind power oceanographic weather monitoring system
In the pursuit of stronger and more stable winds, wind farms are being located further offshore. In fact, some projects are being planned at distances of up to 210km or more. Increasing wind power generation also faces many challenges. The entire process, from initial planning to decommissioning, takes decades and requires careful management.
Reecotech provides a marine monitoring system with advanced sensors to monitor the ocean surface and provide real-time local environmental data. The system is cloud-integrated, allowing secure and convenient access to data from anywhere, anytime.
The Lifecycle of an Offshore Wind Farm
Offshore wind farms have the potential to play a significant role in the transition to a clean energy future. However, their effectiveness depends on careful planning, operation, and maintenance throughout their lifecycle. Understanding the different phases of an offshore wind farm’s lifecycle and how real-time ocean data can be utilized to optimize each stage is crucial for maximizing their potential.
1. Planning & Development: Ensuring Accuracy and Feasibility
The initial phase of the lifecycle, the planning and development stage, is of paramount importance. Monitoring wave, current, and weather conditions at ports and potential project sites through Reecotech’s “Marine Weather Monitoring System” enables accurate project completion time assessment and feasibility analysis.
Moreover, early collection of sea state data enhances situational awareness from day one, supporting subsequent phases such as installation and operation, thereby optimizing operations and minimizing risks.
2. Establish key components: Minimize risk and optimize performance levels
Key component installation, including foundations, monopiles, blades, and cables, demands absolute precision and safety. Unpredictable weather and sea conditions often pose significant challenges. Reecotech’s system provides real-time measurement and analysis tools, enabling accurate risk assessment and mitigation or elimination of these challenges.
Project success hinges on a multitude of factors, as project delays, cost overruns, personnel safety, and property damage are all heavily influenced by local environmental conditions. Whether it’s crane operations or cable installation, selecting the right deployment window is crucial. Choosing the optimal time for personnel deployment based on real-time sea state data significantly reduces risk.
3. Installation & Operation: Expanding the Weather Window and Enhancing Efficiency
During the installation and operation phases, recognizing situations through accurate marine condition data is extremely important. Reecotech’s modern technology provides real-time data with high availability, extending the weather window and allowing for closer and more optimized operations. This not only enhances efficiency but also minimizes downtime due to bad weather.
Additionally, the flexibility in system installation allows investors to choose suitable locations, ensuring sustainability throughout the operation process and cost savings.
4. Operations & Maintenance: Enhancing Safety and Reducing Costs
Over 40% of the total lifecycle costs of offshore wind farms are related to operations and maintenance. In 2016, incidents related to personnel transfers accounted for more than two-thirds of all incidents, according to the G+ organization (Global Offshore Wind Health & Safety Organization). Reecotech’s system provides real-time environmental data, supporting situational awareness and decision-making, helping to minimize risks and costs associated with operations and maintenance.
The ability to enhance operational performance while ensuring employee safety is a major challenge for the growing global offshore wind market. By providing real-time local environmental data, Reecotech’s system helps support better situational awareness and precise decision-making, thereby reducing risks and successfully completing tasks.
5. Decommissioning & Rejuvenation: Ensuring Structural Integrity
The rejuvenation or removal of old turbines also faces similar risks. Reecotech’s system provides historical weather and oceanographic data throughout the lifecycle of the turbine, aiding in the planning of effective and safe rejuvenation or decommissioning projects. This ensures smooth and accurate execution, based on specific and reliable data.
Comprehensive Benefits from Reecotech’s Marine Weather Monitoring System
Reecotech’s marine weather monitoring system, based on advanced sensors, offers a comprehensive and efficient solution for the offshore wind energy industry. With the ability to provide real-time data on waves, currents, and weather, regulators and operational engineers can access system data from anywhere.
Reecotech is committed to supporting customers in achieving success in offshore wind energy projects through advanced technology and comprehensive solutions. Contact us for more details and discover how we can help you optimize the operation of your wind farm.