The UK is a global leader when it comes to the development of offshore wind energy. Despite past government bans on onshore wind development, the UK was able to continue developing its wind energy portfolio by going out to sea. The UK now generates over a quarter of its electricity from wind, with a significant portfolio of offshore wind projects amounting to 80+ gigawatts. 

Despite this success offshore, continuing development is now getting more complicated. With sites selected for development being in much deeper waters the industry is transitioning from fixed to floating foundations. And deployment of offshore wind will need to grow exponentially, not just in the UK and North Sea, but around the world, in order to meet Net Zero targets.

Industry experts like James Faroppa from Fugro, Emily Summers from Simply Blue Group, Daniel Gumsley from Marsh and Amy Beeston from DNV share insights on the intricacies of developing offshore floating wind farms. They highlight the importance of collecting accurate seabed data, the certification process, and the evolving insurance landscape.

The transition to floating wind farms necessitates a shift in traditional methods, requiring innovative approaches to data collection and certification to meet ambitious net zero goals. Collaborative efforts and standardisation across the industry are crucial to overcoming these challenges and accelerating project timelines. The Crown Estate’s proactive approach to seabed planning and data provision aims to streamline the development process, while industry stakeholders emphasise the importance of collaboration, data sharing, and innovation to achieve sustainable and efficient offshore wind energy production.

James Faroppa, service line director marine geoconsulting in Europe and Africa, Fugro

Amy Beeston, geotechnical engineer, DNV

Emily Summers, project development engineer, Simply Blue Group

Daniel Gumsley, offshore wind strategic lead, Marsh

Will Apps, director of offshore wind strategy, The Crown Estate.

Fugro is the world’s leading Geo-data specialist, collecting and analysing comprehensive information about the Earth and the structures built upon it. Through integrated data acquisition, analysis and advice, Fugro unlocks insights from Geo-data to help clients design, build and operate their assets in a safe, sustainable and efficient manner.

The post #285 Delivering the Floating Offshore Wind Revolution first appeared on Engineering Matters.