Improving the accessibility of offshore wind infrastructure in hostile environments

Offshore wind farms are increasingly proposed for more remote and challenging environments. An example is the four "ScotWind" option sites (N1 - N4) north and west of Scotland. These sites are exposed to a ferocious wind and wave climate in winter.

The sites are attractive for high and sustained wind power but are challenging with respect to access for pre-commissioning and operational activities in adverse environmental conditions. Pre-commissioning (15%) and operations and maintenance (35%) are estimated to amount together to typically half the lifetime costs of energy from offshore wind farms and this may be exceeded in the most challenging environments.

An initial analysis has shown that accessibility of N1 - N4 for necessary operations with existing technology is poor, especially but not exclusively in winter. The project will develop methods to improve accessibility in such environments; examples are given below but the successful candidate should innovate beyond these.:

1. Effective appliance of climatological data for strategic planning 2. Merging of data and forecasts from multiple sources and timely interpretation for operational purposes

3. Identification and evaluation of appropriate technological advances to increase accessibility, or to reduce the need for human access. 4. Modification of industry practice within governance constraints Co-design, testing and assessment of the combined portfolio of will be in collaboration with the industrial partner.

The project offers scope for the successful candidate to bring their own perspective, but it is expected that this project will be interdisciplinary. Methods and approaches to improve accessibility should consider industry practice, human factors, and governance opportunities and barriers, in addition to scientific and technical innovations. Stakeholder engagement (with those involved with pre-commissioning and O&M) will be key to project success.

In particular, the successful candidate will undertake this project in collaboration with West of Orkney Windfarm, who have secured an agreement for the 'N1' site with Crown Estate Scotland.

which represents a potentially investment of more than £4 billiion (https://www.ridgpower.com/ridg-and-partners-finalise-west-of-orkney-windfarm-agreement-with-crown-estate-scotland/ ).